Chitosan fertilizer is obtained by deacetylation of chitin, which is widely present in nature. Its properties belong to high molecular substances. CTS fertilizer has antibacterial activity and is widely used in agriculture, medicine, food, cosmetics, water treatment, and other aspects.
Disease control is the application direction of chitosan fertilizer in agriculture. Due to its antibacterial properties, chitosan has been widely used in plant protection, through seed coating, soil application, and foliar spraying to promote plant growth, improve immunity, and improve the soil.
Chitosan Fertilizer Mechanism of Action
The mechanism of action is mainly divided into the following three aspects:
Plant Resistance Activation: Chitosan molecules work by triggering various physiological and morphological responses in plants, establishing a natural immune mechanism. Activating plant resistance can help reduce the use of pesticides. For example, CTS fertilizer induces the plant’s immune response, thereby enhancing its resistance to pathogen invasion, reducing plant diseases, and consequently decreasing the need for pesticides.
Stimulating Germination: Chitosan has the ability to stimulate seed germination. Soaking or coating seeds with chitosan can alter the permeability of the seed’s outer membrane, increase the concentrations of sugar and proline, and boost enzyme activity, leading to vigorous seedlings.
Natural Nematicides: The application of chitosan fertilizer in the soil can effectively control nematodes. It inhibits nematode reproduction by inducing the breakdown of chitin, which destroys the epidermis of nematodes and their eggs.
CTS fertilizer can be widely applied to economic crops such as potatoes, cabbage, corn, rice, melons, tomatoes, lettuce, and rapeseed.
Specification
Items | Standards | Testing Results |
Characteristics | Off-white or light yellow powder | Conformed |
Identification | Adding CuC4H4O6 TS and heating a brick-red or deep brown precipitate is formed | Conformed |
DAC degree | ≥90% | 90.4% |
Viscosity | 50mpa·s—800mpa·s | 102mpa·s |
Moisture | ≤10.0% | 8.48% |
Ash | ≤2.0% | 0.49% |
Bulk Density | ≥0.3g/ml | 0.33g/ml |
Acid-insoluble Substance | ≤1.0% | <1.0% |
pH | 6.5-8.5 | 8.16 |
Arsenic | ≤0.5ppm | <0.5ppm |
Heavy Metals | ≤10ppm | <10ppm |
Mesh Size | Meets the requirements | 100%through 80 mesh |
Total Plate Count | ≤1,000 cfu/g | 50 cfu/g |
Yeast & Mold | ≤100 cfu/g | 10 cfu/g |
Chitosan Fertilizer Advantages
- Control insects and help crop resist diseases.
- Decompose trace metal elements in the soil.
- Enhance plant immunity and promote plant health.
- Improve yield and quality.
- Compatible with most pesticides and fertilizers.
Chitosan Fertilizer Application
1. High antimicrobial activity
One of the most important proprieties of chitosan is its high antimicrobial activity against a wide variety of microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses.
The inhibition was observed at different pathogen development stages such as mycelial growth, sporulation, spore viability and germination, and on the production of fungal virulence factors.
2. Induce plant resistance
Chitosan fertilizer at low molecular weight acts as a powerful biotic elicitor,
It’s able to induce plant defense responses and to activate different pathways that increase the crop resistance to diseases. By activating a plant’s immune system which prevents pathogen invasion and bad external environment.
3. Used on seed treatment
Chitosan fertilizer has a high molecular weight, it confers to chitosan biopolymer characteristics so that it can be used as a film, forming physical barriers around the seeds preventing the pathogen infection.
Besides, chitosan fertilizer has the ability of high antimicrobial activity and eliciting plant resistance, so it has widely used on seed treatment.
How to Use Our Chitosan Fertilizer on Your Plants?
- Physical Properties:
- Our fertilizer comes in a form of a white to light yellow powder that flows freely.
- Dissolution Method:
- Chitosan is insoluble in both water and alkali solutions. However, it dissolves in dilute acid. Given that a Chitosan solution undergoes slow hydrolysis in olefin acid, it’s best used immediately once prepared.
Application Guidelines:
A. Seed Treatment:
- Applying Chitosan to grains and vegetables can boost germination rates, enhance disease resistance in young seeds, promote growth, and increase yields.
- To prepare, dissolve Chitosan in a 1% to 3% acetic acid solution, then dilute to a 0.5% to 0.01% solution. Coat seeds with this solution before planting.
B. Plant Disease Resistance:
- Chitosan exhibits antifungal properties, and its derivatives, including Chitosan oligosaccharide, are also effective in this regard.
C. Soil Improvement:
- Chitosan acts as an effective soil additive, reducing harmful fungi and nematodes, enhancing the soil’s fertilizing capabilities, and overall improving soil health.
- For soil improvement, mix Chitosan with concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl), water, and 20% KOH in the ratio of 10:44:824:122. When using, dilute this mixture 40 times (to a Chitosan concentration of 25mg/L) and apply at a rate of 6 KG per 100 square meters. This treatment can lead to a 29% yield increase over untreated controls.
D. Freshness Preservation:
- Chitosan serves as a natural preservative that can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by forming a protective film. This film reduces moisture loss and spoilage.
- Treating fruits like strawberries and grapes with a 1% to 2% Chitosan solution can extend their freshness by up to two days under normal temperature conditions.
E. Fertilizer Efficiency:
- Thanks to its viscous solution and ability to form films, Chitosan can slow the release of fertilizer, minimizing nutrient loss and maximizing fertilizer effectiveness.
F. Nematode Control:
- When mixed with an appropriate carrier, Chitosan becomes an effective natural pesticide against nematodes.
Note:
- A specific blend of Chitosan and Salicylic acid can be used to create a novel nematicide.
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