Application Value of Chitosan in Agriculture

Chitosan is a high molecular alkaline polysaccharide polymer with cation. It comes from a wide range of sources. It mainly uses shrimp and crab shells as raw materials. First, chitin is produced through processes such as decalcification and protein removal, and then chitin is deacetylated and decolorized to obtain pure chitosan. Chitosan is naturally non-toxic and has the advantages of being renewable, safe, and easily biodegradable. Chitosan has good properties of antioxidant and broad-spectrum antibacterial. What's more, it also has unique physical and chemical properties and bioactivation functions. According to the different viscosity of chitosan, it is widely used in agricultural plant protection, feed, textile, printing and dyeing, leather, paint, cigarette, plastic, cosmetics, food, medicine, health care, color film, papermaking, biological engineering, sewage treatment and other fields. 

In agriculture, chitosan not only promotes the growth of crops, but also protects and improves the quality of crops, and has the dual effect of medicine and fertilizer.

1. Application in the control of crop diseases and insect pests

1.1 Control plant diseases

Chitosan has an inhibitory effect on the spore germination and growth of plant pathogenic bacteria, and has an induction effect on the protective function of pathogenic bacteria infection. It is a broad-spectrum fungicide. 1% chitosan can inhibit the growth of 90% of the pathogenic bacteria.

1.2 Induce plant disease resistance, control plant pests

Chitosan can induce chitinase activity in plants, these enzymes can react with chitin of plant pathogens or pests to kill them, and can prevent bacteria or pests from invading plant tissues and improve plant defense capabilities. Chitosan has obvious control effect on various pests, aphids and nematodes.

1.3 Improve the distribution of microorganisms in the soil

After being applied to the soil, chitosan can promote the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms, such as actinomycetes, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria. It can effectively inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, molds and filamentous fungi, and has a good control effect on soil-borne diseases.

2. Application in soil improvement and fertilizer

Chitosan can effectively improve the soil aggregate structure and microbial flora, and enhance the soil's ability to retain fertilizer and water.

3. Application in enhancing crop resistance

Chitosan can induce crops to produce a large number of resistant substances in a short period of time after application, improve the autoimmune ability of crops. It has a good effect on the cold resistance, high temperature resistance, drought resistance, waterlogging resistance, salinity resistance, fertilizer resistance, phytotoxicity, disease and insect resistance of crops. 

4. Application in promoting the robust growth of crops

Chitosan can improve the germination rate, plant height and unit weight of crops. When the crop root system and plant are aging, the use of chitosan to irrigate the root can prompt the crop to send out a new root system, pull out new branches, and quickly restore normal growth. 

5. Application in improving crop quality

Chitosan can significantly increase the protein content, vitamin C content, total soluble sugar content, and reduce crude fiber content of crops, so as to achieve the purpose of improving the nutritional quality of crops, making them more nutritious and having higher commercial value.

6. Application in fresh food preservation

After chitosan is sprayed on fruits and vegetables, a layer of selective breathable protective film is formed, which has good moisturizing and antioxidant activity. It does not affect the permeability of carbon dioxide while limiting the entry of oxygen, so that fruits and vegetables are in a self-regulated micro-atmosphere. It can resist the invasion of pathogenic bacteria, prevent the discoloration and deterioration of fruits and vegetables, prolong the storage life, and achieve the effect of preservation and preservation.