Investigation and Characterization of Chitosan Nanoparticles Isolated from Prawn Shell for Their Application as a Biofertilizer

The exploration of biopolymers in agriculture has gained tremendous interest due to today’s global demand. The present research introduces chitosan nanoparticles (PC) isolated and modified from prawn shells for their application as a biofertilizer. The prepared chitosan nanoparticles’ functional, thermal, absorption, and morphological properties such as FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV, and SEM analysis were performed and compared with existing commercial chitosan. Seed germination of Zinnia elegans is monitored for its plant growth and efficiency in pot experiments. The results claim the improved seed germination upon the addition of chitosan nanoparticles (PC) with a growth of 2.3 ± 0.75 cm in 2.5 days compared to the control. The present result thus suggests a potential biofertilizer and provides future scope for its application in agriculture. Graphical Abstract