Assessment of Azolla for carbon capture, biofertilizer application, and rice productivity enhancement in sustainable lowland farming systems under climate change adaptation

Azolla spp., a fast-growing aquatic fern, promotes sustainable rice farming in Indonesia by fixing nitrogen and capturing carbon, thereby reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, improving soil quality, and supporting climate change mitigation in lowland systems. This study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) using the PRISMA methodology, complemented by bibliometric analysis, to assess Azolla’s potential in enhancing rice productivity and sequestering carbon within eco-friendly farming systems. The findings indicate that Azolla can reduce methane (CH4) emissions by up to 36% and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by approximately 76–97%, based on both short-term assessments and full-season trials, while capturing 6–9 tons of CO2 per hectare annually. Depending on specific application methods such as green manure incorporation, dual cropping, and rice–duck–Azolla integration, rice yield can increase by 10–30%. As a biofertilizer, Azolla reduces synthetic fertilizer dependency, enhances soil microbial activity, and improves nutrient cycling. Nevertheless, challenges such as limited farmer awareness, climatic variability, and scalability persist. Future research should focus on optimizing application techniques under varying agroecosystem conditions, long-term monitoring of greenhouse gas reduction, and policy innovations to support widespread adoption.