EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON AZOLLA PRODUCTION AT GEZIRA

Abstract

This study was undertaken at the Alnashishiba complex, an experimental farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Gezira University which lies between latitudes of 14° 22? to 14° 25? N and longitudes of 33° 29? to 33° 30? E, 405 m above sea level. In addition to the standard control, the treatments included organic and inorganic fertilizers. The organic fertilizers were cow manure and compost at the rate of one kg/m2 for each, while the inorganic fertilizer (combination of phosphorus and potassium) at the rate of 5 g/m2 for each which is equivalent to 32 and 18 g of mono phosphate and potassium sulfate, respectively. The four treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design in four replications. After 24 hours, the Azolla primer was spread (100 g/m2) and continued to harvest (in 12 days). Productivity of Azolla was measured for all treatments by weight in g, and then the protein percentage was recorded as the nitrogen content using Kjeldhal method. The highest production of Azolla fodder was obtained when supplemented with the cow manure and the production reached 1167 g/m2 followed by compost (1131 g/m2) while the chemical fertilizers gave the lowest production (811 g/m2) making the increase rate over the control as 141%, 133% and 67%, respectively. On the other hand, the addition of compost fertilizer resulted in the highest percentage of protein (41.1%) with an increment of 105% over control whereas the combination of P and K and cow manure approximately gave the same protein content (38% and 37%, respectively). The results of this study revealed that the addition of organic fertilizers i.e. cow manure or compost is more beneficial for Azolla production than the chemical fertilizers (P and K).