Comparison of Chitosan and Graphene Oxide Coated Slow-Release Phosphorus Fertilizers on Lettuce Micronutrients Content

Comparison of Chitosan and Graphene Oxide Coated Slow-Release Phosphorus Fertilizers on Lettuce Micronutrients Content

This study aims to compare the effects of chitosan and graphene oxide-coated slow-release phosphorus fertilizers on the micronutrients content of lettuce. Hydroponic culture was used to grow lettuce plants, and four treatments were applied: chitosan-coated fertilizer, graphene oxide-coated fertilizer, and a control. The results showed that the chitosan-coated fertilizer increased the manganese and copper concentration of lettuce compared to the control, while the graphene oxide-coated fertilizer had no significant effect on these micronutrients. However, the graphene oxide-coated fertilizer increased the iron and zinc content of lettuce compared to both the chitosan-coated and control treatments. The increase of iron and zinc in graphene oxide compared to chitosan was 7.85 and 7.6%, respectively. These findings suggest that the choice of coating material for slow-release fertilizers can have a significant impact on the micronutrient content of crops, and that further research is needed to optimize the use of these innovative technologies in agriculture.