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Effect of varying periods of inoculation ofAzolla pinnata R. Brown on its growth, nitrogen fixation and response to rice crop

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Summary

Inoculation of water fernAzolla pinnata R. Brown (Bangkok isolate) at the rate of 500kg fresh weight ha−1 in rice fields at weekly intervals after planting in addition to 30 kg N ha−1 as urea showed a decrease in its growth and N2-fixation with delay in application. Use of Azolla up to 3 weeks after planting (WAP) during wet and 4 WAP during dry season produced significantly more grain yield than 30 kg N ha−1, whereas its application upto one WAP produced more grain yield than 60 kg N ha−1. Grain yield with Azolla applied at the time of planting was similar to that of 60 kg N treatment during the wet season. Higher grain yields in zero and one WAP Azolla treatments resulted due to increase in both number of panicles m−2 and number of grains/panicle while the subsequent Azolla inoculations increased grain yield mainly by producing more number of grains/panicle.

Dry matter and total N yields at maturity of rice crop were more with Azolla application upto 3 WAP during wet and 2 WAP during dry season while the reduction in sterility (%) was observed upto one WAP over 30 kg N ha−1 during both seasons. Number of tillers m−2 and dry matter production at maximum tillering and flowering were more than 30 kg N ha−1 with the use of Azolla upto one WAP. Increased grain N yield was observed with the use of Azolla upto 4 WAP during two seasons whereas straw N yield increased upto one WAP during wet and 2 WAP during dry season.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Blue-green Algae, Central Rice Research Institute, 753 006, Cuttack, Orissa, India

    D. P. Singh & P. K. Singh

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  1. D. P. Singh
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  2. P. K. Singh
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Singh, D.P., Singh, P.K. Effect of varying periods of inoculation ofAzolla pinnata R. Brown on its growth, nitrogen fixation and response to rice crop. Plant Soil 98, 257–264 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374829

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374829

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