Summary
Phosphorus removal by Azolla caroliniana cultured in nutrient enriched waters was evaluated under varying environmental and cultural conditions. Azolla growth rates were found to be influenced by plant density, temperature, solar radiation and nutrient composition of the culture medium. Biomass yields were found to be highest during first harvest (5.6 to 7.9 g dry wt m−2 day−1) and yields decreased significantly during subsequent harvests, when plants were cultured without replenishing the depleted nutrients. Phosphorus removal in Azolla systems was found to be due to plant uptake and chemical precipitation. Phosphorus removal due to plant uptake was found to be in the range of 16.7 to 92.1 mg P m−2 day−1. Estimated N2 fixation rates were found to be in the range of 201 to 275 mg N m−2 day−1.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Cornwell D A, Zoltek J Jr., Patrinely C D, des Furman T and Kim J I 1977 Nutrient removal by water—hyacinth. J. Water Pollut. Cont. Fed. 49: 57–65.
Lumpkin T A and Plucknett D L 1980 Azolla: Botany, physiology, and use as a green manure. Econ. Bot. 34: 111–153.
Reddy K R, Campbell K L, Graetz D A and Portier K M 1982 Use of biological filters for agricultural drainage water treatment. J. Environ. Qual. 11: 591–595.
Tran Q T and Dao T T 1973 Azolla: A green compost. Vietnamese Studies 38, Agric. Problems, Agron. Data 4: 119–127 (Cited by Lumpkin T A and Pluckentt D L 1980 Econ. Bot. 34: 111–153).
Talley S N, Talley B J and Rains D W 1977 Nitrogen fixation by Azolla in rice fields. In: Alexander Hollaender (ed.) Genetic Engineering for Nitrogen Fixation. Plenum Press, N.Y. pp. 259–281.
Watanabe I, Espinas C R, Berja N C and Alimagno V B 1977 Utilization of the Azolla—Anabaena complex as a nitrogen fertilizer for rice. Int. Rice Res. Inst. Res. Paper Ser. No. 11.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1984 Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Reddy, K.R., DeBusk, W.F. (1984). Phosphorus removal by Azolla caroliniana cultured in nutrient enriched waters. In: Silver, W.S., Schröder, E.C. (eds) Practical Application of Azolla for Rice Production. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6201-9_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6201-9_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-009-6203-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-6201-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive