Azolla cultivation enables phosphate extraction from inundated former agricultural soils.

To combat the global loss of wetlands and their essential functions, the restoration and creation of wetlands is imperative. However, wetland development is challenging when soils have been in prolonged agricultural use, often resulting in a substantial nutrient legacy, especially of phosphorous (P). Inundating these soils typically leads to P mobilization, resulting in poor water quality and low biodiversity recovery.