LB 1-1 - CANCELLED - Evaluation of the effects of commercial urea, nanourea and chitosan coated nanourea on the growth and development of Vigna radiata L.

Recent advances in nanotechnology have substantially enhanced the methods for large-scale synthesis of nanomaterials. Various nanoparticles have been employed to improve fertilizer formulation in order to increase plant uptake while minimizing nutrient loss. In the current study, a unique, eco-friendly, and slow release nanourea was synthesized, and it was then coated with a natural polymer (Chitosan) to improve its properties and nitrate use efficiency .X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetry (TGA & DTA) were used to investigate the structural, morphological, and thermal properties of the produced nanofertilizer. For 15 days, synthesized nanourea was studied in-vitro with Vigna radiata L. The concentrations of bare nanourea and chitosan-coated nanourea were 500 mg/L and 1000 mg/L, respectively, and were compared to commercial urea at 1000 mg/L. A column study was also used to check nitrate release for seven days. Chitosan-coated nanourea had the maximum germination, followed by bare nanourea. Meanwhile, chitosan coated nanourea at 500 mg/L demonstrated the highest levels of Phytomorphological features such as root, shoot length, total plant height, and biomass, followed by bare nanourea at 500 mg/L. Chitosan coated nano urea at 500 mg/L had the highest chlorophyll, protein, total phenolic content, and DPPH scavenging activity, followed by chitosan coated nano-urea at 1000 mg/L. Moreover, chitosan-coated nanourea demonstrated decreased nitrate leaching. This study showed that CCNU might be used as a replacement to commercial urea in sustainable agriculture.