Investigating the Physiological Roles of Bulk Chitosan and Nano-Chitosan in Growth, Flowering, Yield Attributes of Brassica napus L. and in Nutrient Delivery in Sandy Soils

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Winter season 2019/2020 at the Research and Production Station, National Research Centre, El-Nubaria Province, El-Behira Governorate, Egypt to investigate the different roles played by either bulk chitosan (CHT) (3000,5000, 7000,9000 ppm), or its nano-form (25,50,75,100,200 ppm) on growth, flowering, quality and quantity of the yielded seeds of Brassica
napus L plant (cv. Serw 4) grown under sandy soil conditions. The results obtained in the present work indicate a significant positive effect of the relatively low concentrations of bulk chitosan (3000, 5000 ppm) and nano-chitosan (25, 50 ppm) on different growth, flowering, and fruiting attributes of Brassica napus. plants. Maximum response was attained upon using 5000 ppm of bulk CHT and 50 ppm of nano CHT. Upon applying the relatively highest concentration (9000 ppm of bulk CHT and 200 ppm of nano CHT), it was noted that growth, flowering, and fruiting parameters were negatively affected. CHT treatment proved its efficiency of increasing Brassica napus yield by 85.93% and 71.1%, in response to 5000 ppm of bulk CHT and 50 ppm of nano CHT, respectively beside improvement of the better consumer properties of Brassica napus yielded seeds with regard to increase content of oil, total carbohydrate, protein-N, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and increase of oleic acid content. Regarding the change in erucic acid content, the data obtained indicate appreciable increase and decrease in response to bulk CHT and nano CHT, respectively. The resultant defatted meal (seed cake) contained a relatively low content of glucosinolates. It could be concluded that 5000 ppm of bulk CHT and 50 ppm of nano CHT may be used to increase the quality and quantity of the yielded Brassica napus seeds grown under sandy soil conditions.