The effect of cyanobacteria and azolla on the performance of rice under different levels of fertilizer nitrogen.

Cyanobacteria and/or azolla were inoculated, with urea at 0, 72 or 144 kg N/ha, in plots in which azolla-free Indica rice var. IR 28 was grown. Productive tillers, yield and nitrogen contents of grain and straw positively responded to inoculation with cyanobacteria or azolla, even with fertilizer-N up to 144 kg N/ha. Inoculation improved colonization by cyanobacteria. Azolla were superior to the asymbiotic cyanobacteria in enhancing rice performance. Urea at a rate of 72 kg N/ha was found to support the best colonizations when applied with cyanobacteria or azolla or, to give maximum rice yields, both inoculants.