As the global population continues to expand, Chitosan In agriculture has been used in seed, leaf, fruit, and vegetable coatings, sprays, and as fertilizer with astounding results. Chitosan, a biodegradable and eco-friendly polysaccharide derived from chitin, holds the potential to revolutionize agriculture. For you, this means a bigger yield and higher quality product come harvest. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about the use of chitosan in agriculture.
1. Biodegradability: As a natural compound, chitosan is biodegradable and leaves no harmful residues in the environment.
2. Bioactivity: Chitosan stimulates plant growth and immunity, making it an effective bio-stimulant and bio-pesticide.
3. Film-Forming Ability: Its ability to form films makes it useful for coating seeds and fruits to enhance their preservation.
Preserving Post-harvest Quality
Post-harvest losses can be detrimental to farmers. Chitosan's film-forming ability can be used to coat fruits and vegetables, slowing down their maturation and deterioration, thus extending their post-harvest life.
1. Enhancing Plant Growth
Chitosan can act as a natural bio-stimulant, improving the growth and health of plants. It can be applied directly to the soil or used as a foliar spray. When used as a soil amendment, chitosan can enhance soil quality, promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms, and improve water retention.
- Dissolve a small amount of chitosan powder (about 0.1 percent ) in an acetic acid solution. The concentration can be adjusted based on specific requirements, but higher concentrations may have phytotoxic effects.
- Apply the solution to the plant foliage, ensuring good coverage. This can be done using a hand-held sprayer for small areas or a tractor-mounted sprayer for larger fields.
2. Stimulating Plant Immunity
3. Preserving Post-Harvest Quality
Chitosan has been used as a coating for fruits and vegetables to extend their post-harvest life. It forms a thin film that acts as a barrier against microbial infection and reduces water loss, thereby slowing down the ripening process.
- Prepare a chitosan solution (typically around 1 percent ) in acetic acid.
4. Bio-Control Agent
Chitosan has shown antimicrobial activity against various plant pathogens. It can be used as a bio-control agent to protect crops from diseases without resorting to synthetic chemicals.
To use Chitosan as a bio-control agent, follow these steps:
It's worth noting that while chitosan is generally safe, its use should be carefully managed to avoid potential issues, such as over-application, which could have phytotoxic effects. It's always recommended to follow product-specific guidelines when using chitosan in agricultural practices.
The use of chitosan in combination with other bio-stimulants or bio-pesticides is another exciting avenue for research. This could potentially create powerful, all-natural crop treatment systems, reducing our reliance on synthetic chemicals.
In conclusion, chitosan has emerged as a versatile and promising tool in sustainable agriculture. Its unique properties and benefits make it a powerful ally in enhancing plant growth, stimulating plant immunity, and preserving post-harvest quality.
References:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017927/
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/10/12/624
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2369969820300335
https://www.jceionline.org/download/chitosan-and-its-broad-applications-a-brief-review-11268.pdf
