ISHS Acta Horticulturae 399: Greenhouse Environment Control and Automation
EFFECT OF MAGNETIC FIELD ON GERMINATION AND PLANT GROWTH |
| Authors: | K. Namba, A. Sasao, S. Shibusawa |
| Keywords: | magnetic stimulation, frequency, germination, plant growth, alternating, magnetic field, terrestrial magnetic field |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1995.399.15 |
| Abstract:
This paper describes the effect of alternating magnetic fields on plant germination and growth. Experiments were conducted utilizing various frequencies and two states of polarity. Electromagnetic coils were used to generate the fields and 'Komatsuna' plants were chosen as subjects. The frequency was varied from 1 to 1000 Hz, at a fixed intensity of 4 or 5 Gauss. The magnetic polarity was controlled by reversing the current direction. Measured parameters were germination rate, growth rate and yield of the plant. The results indicated that magnetic fields do influence plant growth and germination, and that frequency of the field is a more important factor in germination rates than polarity. Maximum germination rates, which were 20 % higher than control rates, were obtained at around 10 Hz. An alternating magnetic field of 10 Hz was shown to have a statistically significant effect on plant growth, as measured by leaf area. The difference in growth rate between treated and control plants decreased after the field was removed. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
