HELP: ERADICATION OF AZOLLA

[mel turner]

In article <3ld3v9$lcs at nikau.palm.cri.nz> agpcrv at palm.cri.nz writes:
>I am making this enquiry for a friend who is farming in a dry region of 
>South Africa. His dam is overgrown with Azolla to the extent that the
>entire water surface has been covered. Does anyone have any experience 
>with eradicating this water fern?
>Any help would be much appreciated

If it is really Azolla and not Salvinia (better known as a serious  aquatic 
pest), the farmer may actually benefit from allowing it to grow, periodically 
skimming off the excess and using it as "green manure"--- Azolla has a 
symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Anabaena azollae) 
and thus can be used to enrich soil.
mdt