Effect of high static electric field on germination and early stage of growth of Avena sativa and Raphanus sativus

Abstract

Presented study investigated the impact of a stationary electric field with an average value of 185 kV/m on the germination process and early growth of radish (Raphanus sativus – a eudicot plant) and oat (Avena sativa – a monocot plant). Electric field stimulation may prove to be one method to sustainably increase crop efficiency. The research is aimed to increase knowledge of the effect of a static electric field on the plant growth process, because understanding of the topic is still limited. The plants were grown on a viscose substrate in a dark room without any light. Studies have shown that the electric field can affect the germination and growth process depending on the plant species. The findings indicate a positive influence of the electric field on radish germination. The presence of the electric field accelerates the germination process and growth of young plants. On the first day of germination (the 3rd day of cultivation), about 3.2 times as many plants germinated in the samples exposed to a stationary electric field compared to the control samples. On the last day of the experiment (the 8th day of cultivation), the tallest plants in the samples subjected to the electric field were 8 % higher, compared to the tallest plants in the control samples. On the other hand, the results demonstrate a negative impact of the electric field on oat seed germination. The presence of an electric field delays the germination process and reduces the number of germinated seeds. On the last day of the experiment (the 11th day of cultivation), about 1.25 times fewer oat plants germinated in the samples exposed to a stationary electric field compared to the control samples. The tallest plants in the samples subjected to the electric field were 1.1 times smaller than the tallest plants in the control samples.