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<p>In the current global scenario, food and nutritional security in livestock production is gaining increasing attention. Both fresh and dry fodder are often deficient in essential constituents, directly impacting livestock health and productivity. Addressing this critical challenge, enhancing forage yield and nutritional quality has become imperative for sustaining livestock systems. Chitosan, a natural and versatile biopolymer, exhibits promising bio-stimulant properties that can be harnessed for agricultural applications. The present study investigates the efficacy of three chitosan variants—non-irradiated chitosan (NC), Electron Beam Irradiated Chitosan (EBIC), and Gamma-Irradiated Chitosan (GIC)—on the morpho-physiological and quality traits of Tall fescue (<i>Festuca arundinacea</i>).Our findings demonstrate that foliar application of GIC at 50&#xa0;ppm significantly improved various morpho-physiological parameters. Most notably, it resulted in a 22.75% increase in plant dry biomass, outperforming EBIC (17%) and NC (11%). GIC treatment also led to a 1.9-fold increase in plant height, compared to 1.8-fold with EBIC and 1.5-fold with NC. Similarly, the number of leaves per plant increased by 2.1-fold with GIC, surpassing EBIC (1.79-fold) and NC (1.9-fold).In terms of nutritional enhancement, GIC treatment at 50&#xa0;ppm increased crude protein content by 7.9% and total carbohydrates by 27.68%. It also contributed to a notable reduction in anti-nutritional factors, including a 12% decrease in acid detergent lignin, 15.38% reduction in simple phenols, and 9.8% reduction in total phenols. While all three chitosan variants reduced cell wall constituents, GIC application led to the most significant decreases in neutral detergent fibre (6.9%) and hemicellulose content (27.71%). Moreover, GIC treatment enhanced photosynthetic pigments, with a 30.82% increase in total chlorophyll and a 24.51% rise in carotenoids. These physiological improvements indicate that GIC induces growth-promoting changes at the cellular level. In conclusion, the study highlights the potential of chitosan variants, particularly gamma-irradiated chitosan at 50&#xa0;ppm, in enhancing both the productivity and nutritional quality of Tall fescue. This approach holds promise for application in other forage crops, offering a sustainable strategy to meet the growing nutritional demands of the livestock sector.</p>

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A comparative investigation on radiated and non-radiated chitosan on growth and forage quality in Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月2日

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  • Rajan Katoch,
  • Sunil Kumar Singh,
  • Kumari Archana,
  • Sunil Dalvi,
  • Manish Pandey,
  • Ashish Kumar

摘要

In the current global scenario, food and nutritional security in livestock production is gaining increasing attention. Both fresh and dry fodder are often deficient in essential constituents, directly impacting livestock health and productivity. Addressing this critical challenge, enhancing forage yield and nutritional quality has become imperative for sustaining livestock systems. Chitosan, a natural and versatile biopolymer, exhibits promising bio-stimulant properties that can be harnessed for agricultural applications. The present study investigates the efficacy of three chitosan variants—non-irradiated chitosan (NC), Electron Beam Irradiated Chitosan (EBIC), and Gamma-Irradiated Chitosan (GIC)—on the morpho-physiological and quality traits of Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea).Our findings demonstrate that foliar application of GIC at 50 ppm significantly improved various morpho-physiological parameters. Most notably, it resulted in a 22.75% increase in plant dry biomass, outperforming EBIC (17%) and NC (11%). GIC treatment also led to a 1.9-fold increase in plant height, compared to 1.8-fold with EBIC and 1.5-fold with NC. Similarly, the number of leaves per plant increased by 2.1-fold with GIC, surpassing EBIC (1.79-fold) and NC (1.9-fold).In terms of nutritional enhancement, GIC treatment at 50 ppm increased crude protein content by 7.9% and total carbohydrates by 27.68%. It also contributed to a notable reduction in anti-nutritional factors, including a 12% decrease in acid detergent lignin, 15.38% reduction in simple phenols, and 9.8% reduction in total phenols. While all three chitosan variants reduced cell wall constituents, GIC application led to the most significant decreases in neutral detergent fibre (6.9%) and hemicellulose content (27.71%). Moreover, GIC treatment enhanced photosynthetic pigments, with a 30.82% increase in total chlorophyll and a 24.51% rise in carotenoids. These physiological improvements indicate that GIC induces growth-promoting changes at the cellular level. In conclusion, the study highlights the potential of chitosan variants, particularly gamma-irradiated chitosan at 50 ppm, in enhancing both the productivity and nutritional quality of Tall fescue. This approach holds promise for application in other forage crops, offering a sustainable strategy to meet the growing nutritional demands of the livestock sector.