**46. Bionematicide**

Nematodes proliferation can be controlled when chitosan is applied in soil, because chitinolytic microorganisms proliferate destroying nematode eggs and degrading the chitincontaining cuticle of young nematodes [240]. Because of the high content of nitrogen in chitosan and chitin molecules, concentrations of ammonia emissions increase turning toxic to nematodes which principally affect plant roots and shoots [239, 243].

Further research is still required to find more applications of chitosan in agriculture, but nowadays this polymer means to be a cheap and easy material to deal with crop problems pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest level.
