Keywords :
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Green technology, Phytoremediation,
Aquatic macrophyte, Azolla, Heavy metals
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Abstract :
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The environmental pollution resulting from
natural resources acquisition is one of the most severe
problems nowadays. Phytoremediation is a new
environmental friendly and economically attractive
techniques using the plants for detoxification of their
substrate. It is an integrated multidisciplinary approach
to the cleanup of contaminated soils and water, which
combines the disciplines of plant physiology, chemistry,
and soil and water microbiology. Besides numerous
application of Azolla in agriculture, e.g. as green manure,
it was found that this plant possess a huge ability for
phytoremediation. Azolla,an aquatic pteridophyte is an
ideal choice because of its high multiplication rate, global
distribution, high biomass production, high protein
content, its growth habitat. It is not only used by farmers
as biofertilizer but is also used as feed for livestock, as
green manure, bioremediation of waste water and
reclamation of saline soils. Both living as well as the nonviable
biomass of Azolla can be used for heavy metal
removal from wastewater. The growing concern about
environmental degradation and shrinking natural
resources necessitates the use to exploit the potential of
this Azolla –Anabaena association more efficiently. This
paper reviews the potential of Azolla in environmental
management.
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