Nanochitosan supports growth of Zea mays and also maintains soil health following growth

The present study evaluated the effect of nanochitosan in combination with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), PS2 and PS10 on maize growth. The PGPR were earlier recognized as Bacillus spp. on the basis of 16S rDNA sequencing. The observation revealed enhanced plant health parameters like seed germination (from 60 to 96.97%), plant height (1.5-fold increase), and leaf area (twofold). Variability in different physicochemical parameters (pH, oxidizable organic carbon, available phosphorous, available potassium, ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen) was observed. Activities of soil health indicator enzymes (dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis and alkaline phosphatase) were also enhanced 2 to 3 fold. Plant metabolites with respect to different treatments were also analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and the result revealed an increase in the amounts of alcohols, acid ester and aldehyde compounds. Increase in organic acids indicates increased stress tolerance mechanism operating in maize plant after treatment of nanochitosan.