Summary
This narrative review examines chitosan, a non-toxic natural polymer, as a multifunctional material for sustainable agriculture. The authors synthesise evidence across chitosan's properties, modification strategies, and applications throughout the plant life cycle—from seed germination through postharvest preservation—with emphasis on its capacity to enhance crop productivity, improve input utilisation efficiency, and reduce environmental residues when combined with nanoparticles for controlled release of agricultural inputs.
Regional applicability
The review is global in scope and does not present empirical data from specific geographies. Its findings on chitosan's potential to address abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, soil degradation) and improve input efficiency are broadly relevant to United Kingdom agriculture, though uptake would depend on regulatory approval, cost-effectiveness relative to conventional practices, and validation in temperate conditions.
Key measures
Chitosan's antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities; crop productivity; nutrient uptake efficiency; input utilisation efficiency; seed germination performance; postharvest quality preservation; slow-release fertiliser formulation characteristics
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises evidence on chitosan's physicochemical properties and applications throughout the plant life cycle, including seed germination, crop productivity enhancement, nutrient uptake promotion, and postharvest preservation. It evaluates chitosan's potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural inputs through controlled-release delivery systems and its mechanisms for mitigating abiotic stresses.
Topic tags
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