Chitin nanofiber for growth, yield and postharvest quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativum L.)

Lettuce is a popular leafy green vegetable for its fresh leaves which can be easily consumed as raw or salad. A field experiment and a lab experiment examined the effect of chitin nanofiber (CNF) on the growth, yield (field experiment), and postharvest quality (lab experiment) of lettuce (BARI Lettuce-1) at the agrotechnology Field Laboratory and Horticulture Laboratory of Khulna University, Khulna from December to February,2025. A field experiment was designed following a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications and a lab experiment was designed with a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The field experiment was composed of five treatments such as control (no nitrogenous fertilizer), urea (20g), and three concentrations of Chitin nanofiber 1 (05ml), Chitin nanofiber 2 (10ml), and Chitin nanofiber 3 (20ml). Top dressing of urea and foliar spraying of CNFs were done three times during the growing season. The harvested lettuce plants are examined in the lab for postharvest quality attributes including shelf life. Foliar application of CNF showed in either higher or similar plant height, leaf number, leaf area, chlorophyll content, marketable and unmarketable leaf and individual plant fresh weight of lettuce to urea. Treated with CNF resulted more freshness, tenderness and shrinkage of lettuce leaf and also find better TSS, TA and Vitamin C content. CNF also provided a shelf life of almost half a day compared to urea and almost one day compared to control. Overall, CNF enhanced the growth and yield of lettuce and fostered postharvest quality along with extended shelf life. So, CNF can be used in combination with urea or instead of urea to find out same source of nitrogen and grow and maintain lettuce including postharvest quality. However, more field and lab experiment should be conducted to get the final recommendation.

Keywords: Chitin nanofiber, Lettuce, growth, chemical attributes, shelf life

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