This research was conducted to investigate the nutritional value of Azollacaroliniana wild and its potential use as an alternative feed for animals. For this purpose, Azollacaroliniana was cultivated, harvested, and dried. The dried Azolla sample underwent proximate analysis. The dry matter content of Azollacaroliniana was 4.8%. The analysis of dry matter revealed 86.93% organic matter. Among them, 24.8% crude protein, 4.3% ether extract, 14.5% crude fiber and 41.32% nitrogen-free extract. According to the mineral composition of Azolla, it was found that there were 3.89% potassium, 1.89% calcium, 0.58% sulfur, 0.42% phosphorus, and 0.1456% iron, among other minerals. Chemical analyses showed that Azollacaroliniana is a plant rich in crude protein, microminerals, and vitamins. Thus, Azollacaroliniana can be regarded as a viable non-traditional feed for livestock.
References
[1]
Anitha, K.C., Rajeshwari, Y.B., Prasanna, S.B. and Shree, J.S. (2016) Nutritive Evaluation of Azolla as Livestock Feed. JournalofExperimentalBiologyandAgriculturalSciences, 4, 670-674. https://doi.org/10.18006/2016.4(issue6).670.674
[2]
Singh, P.K. and Subudhi, B.P.R. (1978) Utilization of Azolla in Poultry Feed. IndianFarming, 27, 37-39.
[3]
Prabina, B.J. and Kumar, K. (2010) Dried Azolla as a Nutritionally Rich Cost Effective and Immuno-Modulatory Feed Supplement for Broilers. TheAsianJournalofAnimalScience, 5, 20-22.
[4]
Hossiny, H., Setoudeh, M., Rokni, H., Dehghanzadeh, H. and Cheraghcheshm, M. (2008) Using of Silage Azollain Guilan Male Calves Nutrition. ProceedingsofThirdNationalCongressofRecyclingandReuseofReneweableOrganicResourcesinAgricultureIslamicAzadUniversity, Khorasgan Branch (Isfshan) Agricultural Faculty, Waste and Water Research Centre, Iran, 24-27 April 2008, 25-34.
[5]
Leterme, P., Londoño, A.M., Ordoñez, D.C., Rosales, A., Estrada, F., Bindelle, J., etal. (2010) Nutritional Value and Intake of Aquatic Ferns (Azolla filiculoides Lam. and Salviniamolesta Mitchell.) in Sows. AnimalFeedScienceandTechnology, 155, 55-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2009.10.002
[6]
Becerra, M., Preston, T.R. and Ogle, B. (1995) Effect of Replacing Whole Boiled Soya Beans with Azolla in the Diets of Growing Ducks. LivestockResearchforRuralDevelopment, 7, Article No. 26.
[7]
Alalade, O.A. and Iyayi, E.A. (2006) Chemical Composition and the Feeding Value of Azolla (Azolla pinnata) Meal for Egg-Type Chicks. InternationalJournalofPoultryScience, 5, 137-141. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2006.137.141
[8]
Basak, B., Pramanik, A.H., Rahaman, M.S., Tarafdar, S.U and Roy, B.C. (2001) Azolla (Azolla pinnata) as a Feed Ingredient in Broiler Ration. InternationalJournalofPoultryScience, 1, 29-34. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2002.29.34
[9]
Sihag, S., Sihag, Z.S., Kumar, S. and Singh, S. (2018) Effect of Feeding Azolla (Azollapinnata) Based Total Mixed Ration on Growth Performance and Nutrients Utilization in Goats. Forage Research, 43, 314-318.
[10]
Mandal, R.N., Pandey, B.K., Chattopadhyay, D.N. and Mukhopadhyay, P.K. (2012) Azolla—An Aquatic Fern of Significance to Small-Scale Aquaculture. AquacultureAsia, 17, 145-147.
[11]
Kumar, M., Dhuria, R.K., Jain, D., Sharma, T., Nehra, R. and Prajapat, U.K. (2018) A Nutritional Evaluation of Azolla (Azollapinnata) as Feed Supplement. VeterinaryPractitioner, 19, 132-133.
[12]
Sujatha, T., Udhayakumar, I.D., Kundu, A., Jeyakumar, S. and Jai Sundar Kundu, M.S. (2013) Utilization of Raw Azolla as a Natural Feed Additive for Sustainable Production in Nicobari Fowl. AnimalScienceReporter, 7, 146-152.
[13]
Roy, D.C., Pakhira, M.C. and Roy, M. (2016) Estimation of Amino Acids, Minerals and Other Chemical Compositions of Azolla. Advancesin Life Sciences, 5, 2692-2696
[14]
Hou, X. and Jones, T. (2000) Inductively Coupled Plasma/Optical Emission Spectrometry. In: Meyers, R.A., Ed., EncyclopediaofAnalyticalChemistry, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 7-11.
[15]
Sweeney, R.A. and Rexroad, P.R. (1987) Comparison of LECO FP-228 “Nitrogen Determinator” with AOAC Copper Catalyst Kjeldahl Method for Crude Protein. JournalofAOACInternational, 70, 1028-1030. https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoac/70.6.1028
[16]
Lukiwati, D.R., Ristiario, P. and Wahyuni, H.I. (2008) Azollamicrophylla as Protein Source for Rabbits. MEKARN Workshop 2008: Organic rabbit production from forages, Vietnam, 25-27 November 2008, 112-115.
[17]
Kavya, K. (2014) Nutritional Evaluation of Azolla (Azollapinnata) and Its Supplementary Effect on inVitro Digestibility of Crop Residues and Total Mixed Ration. Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University.
[18]
Anand, T. and Geetha, N.P. (2007) Azolla as a Biofertilizer in Coffee Plantation. https://ecofriendlycoffee.org/azolla-as-a-biofertilizer-in-coffee-plantations/
[19]
Parashuramulu, S., Swain, P.S. and Nagalakshmi, D. (2013) Protein Fractionation and inVitro Digestibility of Azolla in Ruminants. Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research, 3, 129-132.