Have been growing Azolla for some years.
This year am trialling the use of Horse Manure, results not good so far.
Will try another approach before the Season ends.
At the moment am able to harvest approximately one Wheelbarrow load per day.
Apart from digging it in, this case starting a Vegie patch, the initially dried Azolla is used in my potting mix, pulverised in a Blender, as a seed raising substrate.
So far no problems with Sciarid Flies.