CHITOSAN IN KNF

Shrimp for Chitosan in KNF

CHITOSAN IN KNF

Chitosan is frequently used by practitioners of Korean Natural Farming (KNF). While not part of the core inputs, it is quite useful. Because it is not a core input, it lacks a designated acronym. Chitosan is a great fit for KNF because it is used as a foliar spray in dilute concentrations, not as a fertilizer, but as a plant defense activator and growth stimulant.  

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHITOSAN

Chitosan is a natural biopolymer derived from chitin, which is found in the shells of crustaceans (such as shrimp and crabs) and in fungal cell walls. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, and biologically active, making it useful in sustainable agriculture.

In agriculture, chitosan is used primarily to activate plant defenses and to stimulate growth, not to fertilize. When applied to plants or soil, it triggers natural immune responses, stimulating the production of defense enzymes, phytoalexins, and other protective compounds.

This can increase resistance to fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases. Because it works by signaling and strengthening plant physiology rather than killing pathogens directly, chitosan fits well within regenerative, organic, and biologically based farming systems.

Chitosan can:

• Enhance seed germination and early root development

• Improve plant tolerance to stress such as drought, salinity, and cold

• Stimulate beneficial microbial activity in the rhizosphere

• Act as a natural biopesticide and antifungal agent

• Improve nutrient uptake efficiency

  
  

Chitosan aligns well with biochemical signaling technology (BST) in the Korean Natural Farming system, where it is treated as a signal rather than a tonic or fertilizer. It is used to signal hormones and trigger enzymes and stress-priming agents. It also pairs well with living soil where Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMO) are present.

SYMPTOMS OF EXCESS

Chitosan is dose-sensitive, and its effects depend strongly on concentration, timing, and frequency. Excess chitosan can overstimulate plant defense responses, which comes at a metabolic cost. When this happens:

• Growth may slow as energy is diverted from development to defense

• Leaves can thicken or become rigid

• Root growth may be reduced

• Repeated high doses can create chronic “stress signaling” rather than resilience

In effect, the plant behaves as if it is under constant attack. This is especially problematic in young plants or during rapid vegetative growth. Chitosan is a signal, not a nutrient. More is not better.

DOSE TOO LOW

At very low concentrations, chitosan may simply fail to trigger a meaningful response:

• Defense pathways are not fully activated

• Stress tolerance benefits are minimal or absent

• Disease suppression effects may be inconsistent

However, “not enough” is generally less harmful than “too much.” The main consequence is no noticeable benefit, rather than damage.

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY

Chitosan functions as a defense signal rather than a nutrient. It works best infrequently and at extremely low dilution. Chitosan is most effective within a narrow, low-dose range, often measured in parts per million. It should be used:

• Strategically (key growth stages or stress periods)

• Infrequently rather than continuously

• As part of a biologically active system (living soil, healthy microbes)

Chitosan is used in a much more diluted concentration than other KNF inputs. KNF inputs are generally in the range of 1:1000 (one part per thousand). Chitosan is usually effective in the 5-50 parts per million (ppm) range, or 5:1,000,000 to 50:1,000,000. Chitosan inputs will therefore go a long way and last a long time.

NUTRITIVE STAGES TO USE IN FORMULAS

Chitosan is a defensive signal, not a growth signal, and not a source of nutrition. It tells the plant: “Stress or threat is possible. Prepare.” The plant responds by reallocating energy toward:

• Immune enzymes

• Cell wall strengthening

• Stress tolerance pathways

  
  

This makes chitosan context-dependent. Biochemical Signaling Technology only works when the right signal is sent at the right developmental moment.

Key BST rule: A signal that is correct in content but wrong in timing becomes noise or stress.

Chitosan in KNF 

Chitosan belongs in the categories:

• Early-life conditioning

• Stress priming

• Immune rehearsal

It does not belong with FPJs used for directed growth stages.

Chitosan is useful in the following stages and situations:

1. SEEDS AND TRANSPLANTS

Use in Seed Soaking Solution (SES) for seeds and transplants. In seeds, this will prime innate immunity before pathogens can gain a foothold, improve uniform germination and early vigor, and encourage efficient root-to-shoot signaling.

In transplants, it will activate stress-response pathways without long-term growth suppression, improve tolerance to water stress and temperature swings, and help plants re-establish quickly after disturbance

Seeds: 5-10ppm

Transplants: 10-15ppm

KNF parallel: Similar to early-life stress conditioning in seed groundwork

2. BEFORE PREDICTABLE STRESS EVENTS

Use before stress events such as heatwaves, cold snaps, drought periods, and high disease-pressure seasons. Chitosan functions as a pre-stress warning signal, strengthening cell walls and defense enzymes before damage occurs. Apply several days before expected stress.

KNF alignment: Observation → anticipation → minimal intervention

3. EARLY VEGETATIVE GROWTH (limited use)

Use only once if disease pressure is high. This works because it enhances resistance while growth is still flexible. However, repeated use shifts energy away from growth, so a single use is recommended. It is not needed in healthy, biologically active soils.

KNF logic: Support the plant during stress, then step away

WHEN NOT TO USE CHITOSAN

1. During rapid vegetative expansion

Why not:

• Growth requires open metabolic pathways

• Chitosan closes doors to prioritize defense

• Results can include slower growth, thicker leaves, and shorter internodes.

KNF principle: Don’t send “danger” signals during abundance

2. During flowering and fruit set

Why not:

• Defense signaling competes with reproduction

• Can reduce fruit size, fruit number, or pollination success

Exception: Severe disease pressure (single, low-dose use only)

3. As a routine, weekly input

Why not:

• Chronic immune activation = chronic stress

• Long-term yield and quality suffer

KNF red flag: Any signal applied on a calendar instead of by observation

4. In biologically dead or sterile systems

Why not:

• Chitosan assumes a responsive soil–plant–microbe network

• Without IMO and microbial partners, the signal becomes incomplete or harsh

KNF reality: Signals require receivers

SUMMARY

Chitosan is best used briefly, early, or before stress, never continuously, never during peak growth, and never as a substitute for living soil. Chitosan is a warning signal, not a growth instruction. Use it briefly, early, or before stress, then stop.

HOW TO MAKE

Tools: Clay jar, cedar bucket, or glass jar, with a breathable cover (like muslin) and a string or band to secure the cover.

Materials: Crab shell or shrimp shell and Fermented Brown Rice Vinegar (BRV) or Fermented Banana Vinegar

Environmental Conditions: This process is optimum in the temperature range of            23-25 °C (73-77°F). It should be kept away from heat and direct sunlight. A stable environment with little change is ideal.

Methods:

The ratio of crab shell (or shrimp) and Brown Rice Vinegar (BRV) is 1:10. It is necessary to roast the shells. The method is the same as that of making WCa using eggshells.

It takes more time to roast crab shells than eggshells. Roasting emits a pungent scent.

The process is complete when the smell is gone, and the color becomes brighter, as happens with eggshells.

HOW TO USE CHITOSAN—UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS

KNF COMPATIBILITY NOTES

• Use after IMO is established, not before

• Do not combine with strong growth FPJs in the same spray

  
  

KNF Concept: Stress prevention uses the quietest signal possible, just enough for the plant to listen.

The original instructions for using chitosan are to dilute it 1:1000 in water and to mix it with other Natural Farming materials throughout the cultivation period. Current research, however, indicates that this dose is too high and that its use across all stages of life is not recommended.

UPDATED USAGE RECOMMENDATIONS

✅ YES — Chitosan Makes Sense When:

Situation	BST Reason
Seed soak / pre-germination	Early immune priming without growth penalty
Transplanting	Signals stress readiness during disturbance
Before heat, cold, drought	Prepares defense before damage
High disease pressure (early stage)	Activates resistance while tissues are still plastic
Single, low-dose use	Clear signal → clear response

❌ NO — Chitosan Does Not Make Sense When:

Situation	BST Reason
Rapid vegetative growth	Defense signals suppress growth
Flowering or fruit set	Energy diverted from reproduction
Weekly or routine spraying	Chronic stress signaling
Used as a “booster” or tonic	Misuse of signal as nutrition
Soil lacks IMO / biology	Signal has no functional receiver

UPDATED TIMING RECOMMENDATIONS

• Apply 2–5 days before anticipated stress

• Spray late afternoon

• One application only per stress event

Reapplying before the plant has stood down from defense negates the benefit.

UPDATED DILUTION RECOMMENDATIONS

Dilute at ratios of 5-15 parts per million (ppm), no more than 50ppm. Unless you are working with commercial-scale applications, you will be measuring drops. Liquid droppers (such as medicinal or essence bottles) are surprisingly accurate. Below is a chart that provides guidelines for measuring with drops.

DROP MEASUREMENTS

Target Amount             Drops needed (Approx.)              Common Household Tool

0.05 ml                           1 drop                                           Precision dropper

1.0 ml                              20 drops                                       Precision dropper

2.5 ml                              50 drops                                       1/2 teaspoon 

5.0 ml                              100 drops                                    1 full teaspoon            

15 ml                               300 drops                                    1 tablespoon

At 1 drop per liter, the dilution is 50ppm, the top limit for chitosan use. This means to get the low-end dilution for seed treatment, 5ppm, you are only adding one drop to 10 liters. To get 10ppm add 1 drop to 5 liters.

DILUTION CHART

Dilution            Drops                Liters of Water

5ppm                1                         10

10ppm              1                         5

15ppm              1                         3.33 (3 liter + 1-1/3 cup) =0.88gal*

*Using 1 drop per gallon makes approximately 13.2ppm

MATH

Using the standard rule where 1ppm = 0.001ml of concentrate per liter of water:

1. Your Measurement: one drop is approximately 0.05ml

2. The Target: you want 15ppm which requires 0.015ml per liter (15 X 0.001 ml)

3. The Calculation:

0.05 ml / 0.015ml/L = 3.33 Liters

USAGE DILUTION CHART

Stress Type	Recommended ppm	Dilution	Notes
Seeds	5–10 ppm	1 drop per 5-10 liters	Add to Seed Soaking Solution (SES) and soak using the same time recommendations
Transplants	10–15 ppm	1 drop per 3.33-5 liters	Add to SOS and follow transplant soaking methods
Cold / frost	5–10 ppm	1 drop per 5-10 liters	Apply 2–5 days before cold
Heat stress	5–10 ppm	1 drop per 5-10 liters	Avoid spraying during heat
Drought stress	10 ppm	1 drop per 5 liters	Apply before soil dries severely

WHY THESE DOSES ARE LOW

At these concentrations:

• Defense enzymes are activated without suppressing growth

• Cell membranes and walls are reinforced

• Water regulation improves without locking stomata shut

Above ~20 ppm, plants often shift fully into defense mode, which is counterproductive for prevention.

LARGER VOLUME DILUTIONS

VERY GENTLE SIGNAL (Cold, heat, drought — one-time, preventative use)

5 ppm

• 1 mL per 50 gallons

• ¼ teaspoon per 60 gallons

Best for:

• Cold or frost priming

• Young plants

• Sensitive crops

STANDARD DILUTION (most common, still conservative)

10 ppm

• 1 mL per 25 gallons

• ¼ teaspoon per 30 gallons

• ½ teaspoon per 60 gallons

Best for:

• Heat stress

• Drought preparation

• General pre-stress conditioning

Quick KNF Reference (per 5 gallons)

Target ppm	Amount per 5 gallons
5 ppm	~0.1 mL (≈ 2 drops)
10 ppm	~0.2 mL (≈ 4 drops)

MIXING TIPS

• Always pre-dilute chitosan in a small amount of water before adding to the tank

• Apply late afternoon (early morning)

• Do not stack with strong FPJs or repeated sprays

• One application per stress event is sufficient