A.

Basic Information
1. RDMIS Code: ___________
2. Program Title: ___________
Project Title: _________________________________________

Study Title: NOSTOC AND AZOLLA FORMULATED PELLETS AS

ORGANIC LIVESTOCK FEEDS

Sector: ______________________________________
3. Commodity: _________________________________
4. Discipline(s): ________________________________
5. Researchers: Nero M. Paderes
Bernie Dela Fuente
6. Implementing Agency/Station
Lead Agency: Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology
Cooperating Agency: _________________
Project Site/Location: Lagangilang, Abra
7. Funding Agency(ies)
8. Duration (Definite Dates)
Date Started: November 2018
Date Ended:
9. Project Status
__x___a. New
______b. Ongoing
______c. To be completed for the year
______d. Completed with terminal report
______e. Suspended
______f. Terminated
______g. Extended
10. Project Location (up to Barangay level) Upland and Lowland Municipalities of Abra
11. Financial Report

Status Year Budget Source Personal MOE Capital Budget Date Actual

Amt of Fund Services Outlay Released Released Expenditures

New 2018

B. Technical Report (Separate Sheet)

TITLE: NOSTOC AND AZOLLA FORMULATED PELLETS AS ORGANIC

LIVESTOCK FEEDS

I. Rationale
 As to livestock, the province of Abra shares the biggest proportion of carabaos tended

(32%) in the region. Likewise, a high proportion of cattle (37.9%), horse (49.8%) and goat

(48.6%) are also reared in the province. It also shares 13.5% of poultry production in CAR (PSA,

2004). From the aforementioned Data’s one can conclude that Abra is a self-sustaining province

but sadly to say Abra belong to the poorest 10 provinces in the country in 2006 and most affected

are low income farmers (NEDA, 2011).

As an agricultural province, the high cost of commercial feeds adds to the burden of poor

farmers in both lowland and upland municipalities. Hence, natural and alternative sources are

encouraged due to its low-cost high nutrition value and eco-friendly impact to the environment.

The Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology being the lead agricultural college in the

province will take this herculean task. Utilizing one of the indigenous blue green algae in the

province scientifically known as “Nostoc” combined with “Azolla” the institute will produce

low-cost high nutrition organic feeds that can help in lessening the expenses of Abranian farmers.

II. Review of Related Literature

Nostoc linckia is a fresh water blue green alga that is commonly seen along the Abra river

system. Its phytochemical component includes carbohydrates, reducing sugars, phytosterols,

phenolics, flavonoids, and proteins. Methanolic extracts reveals the presence of unsaturated fatty

acids in larger amounts (54% - 94%) than the saturated fatty acids (6%-40%). This exhibit that

tabtaba can be a good source of protein as well as crude fat if properly isolated (Paderes, 2015).

Azolla is a freshwater water fern that lives in ponds, lakes, swamps, and streams in both

tropical and sub-tropical conditions. For many centuries, azolla has been used in southern China

and northern Vietnam as green manure for rice. Azolla in association with blue-green alga
anabaena can fix atmospheric Nitrogen (N) into ammonia which can be utilized by rice plant

when it is incorporated into soil. Azolla contains from 2−5% N, 0.3−6.0% Potassium (K) (dry

weight) (Farahpour-Haghani et.al., 2017).

III. Objectives

This study aims to utilize Nostoc and Azolla in pellet form as source of a low-cost organic

livestock feeds.

Specifically, this research study aims to:

1) Compare responses of livestock’s (native chicken and native pigs) subjected to

various formulation of Nostoc and Azolla pellets as to weight gain and meat quality.

2) Determine if there is a significant difference between livestock’s fed with commercial

pellets and livestock’s fed with Nostoc and Azolla pellets as to weight gain and meat

quality.

IV. Expected Output: Production of organic fed livestock’s (native chicken and native pigs) and

low cost Nostoc and Azolla pellets for commercialization.

V. Significance of the Study

The findings of the study may help farmers in acquiring low cost source of livestock

feeds. This may also motivate and encourage local farmers to use tabtaba and azolla as an

alternative source of income. It may also provide researchers with raw materials in studying

other possible uses of tabtaba and azolla either for medical and commercial purposes that will be

readily available.
VI. Methodology/Procedure

1. Locale – Province of Abra

2. Design - Experimental

3. Materials

- Feed mill and pellet maker

- Tabtaba and Azolla culture stocks

- Ph meters

- Phytochemical and Nutrient Analysis kit

- Laboratory trays

- Laboratory Glasswares

- Large aquatic pond

- Animal manure

- Broiler

- Weighing scale

Methods of Propagation

Tabtaba and Azolla propagates best at water temperatures of between 64- and 82-degrees

Fahrenheit. Survey the pond at intervals for one day to be sure that it gets full or partial sunlight.

If the pond is more than half in heavy shade, trim back neighboring plants that create shade or

create a new pond for the ferns in a sunnier location. Add animal manure to the pond water

before putting in the tabtaba and azolla. Add 4 ounces of phosphorus oxide (optional) per 100

square feet of surface area if the water is 6 to 10 inches deep. Cut that amount in half if the depth

is 3 to 5 inches.
 Place 100 pounds of tabtaba and azolla into the water for every 1000 square feet of pond

surface you wish to cover. The tabtaba and azolla will double their weight every 24 hours. Add

more organic fertilizer every eight to 10 days if you want additional growth.

Utilization as Animal Feeds and Organic Fertilizer

The amount will vary depending on the different mixtures of nostoc and azolla pellets as

organic livestock feeds. Follow correct common practices as to proper time of feeding.

VI. Statistical Analysis of Data

The following statistical tools will be utilized:

1. Average Mean- will be used to determine the average body mass and weight of broilers.
2. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)- will be used to determine if there exist a significant

difference in the body mass and weight of the broilers subjected to nostoc and azolla pellets

and broilers subjected to commercial feeds. ANOVA will be subjected at 0.05 level of

significance.
3. DMRT- Duncan’s multiple range tests will be used to determine the significant differences

between the compared means.

Implementing Schedule (Gantt chart)

Activities 2018 2019

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May June July July Aug

1. Proposal X
Preparation
2. Propagation X X X X X X X X
and Utilization
of nostoc and
azolla as form
of feeds.
3. Write-up X X X
4. Reporting and X
Submission of
Final Report

Estimated Budgetary Requirements: Soon to follow

References:

1. https://psa.gov.ph/content/scenario-agriculture-sector-cordillera-administrative-region
2. http://car.neda.gov.ph/major-car-development-issues-and-concerns-and-corresponding-

plan-of-action/
3. Paderes, N. M. (2015). Phytochemical, Nutritive, Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Analysis of

Tabtaba Species (Nostoc linckia) of Lingas Baay Abra, Philippines. IAMURE

International Journal of Ecology and Conservation, 16, 158.

4. Farahpour-Haghani, Atousa, et al. "Water ferns Azolla spp.(Azollaceae) as new host

plants for the small China-mark moth, Cataclysta lemnata (Linnaeus, 1758)(Lepidoptera,

Crambidae, Acentropinae)." Nota Lepidopterologica 40 (2017): 1.

5. Smith, MK and RA Drew (1990). Current Applications of Tissue Culture in Plant

Propagation and Improvement. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 17(3) 267-289.