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Role of Azolla in sustainable agriculture and climate resilience: a comprehensive review

Summary

Azolla is a fast-growing water fern that can help farms become more sustainable by naturally fertilizing soil with nitrogen, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. It also helps control weeds, conserve water, and provides nutritious feed for livestock and fish. Beyond agriculture, Azolla can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and clean polluted water, making it valuable for both farming and environmental protection.

Background

Agriculture faces mounting challenges from climate change, soil degradation, and unsustainable agrochemical use. Azolla, a fast-growing aquatic fern, has emerged as a multifunctional resource for sustainable farming. Through symbiosis with Anabaena azollae, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen and offers multiple agricultural benefits.

Objective

This review synthesizes current knowledge on Azolla’s role in sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. It emphasizes biological and ecological functions, highlights practical applications across agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, and environmental management, and outlines research priorities to overcome limitations.

Results

Azolla fixes 30-60 kg N ha⁻¹ per season through biological nitrogen fixation. It reduces weed biomass by up to 50%, conserves water by reducing evaporation up to 60%, and serves as high-protein feed (25-35% crude protein on dry matter basis). Integration in rice-fish-duck systems increases yields up to 58% compared to monoculture.

Conclusion

Azolla is a multifunctional resource that can reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers, suppress weeds and pests, support livestock and aquaculture, and contribute to carbon sequestration and methane mitigation. Large-scale adoption requires overcoming challenges such as short shelf life and ecological risks through integrated climate-smart agricultural systems.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Plant Science,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41169718, PMCID: PMC12569520, DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1661720
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