Magnetic field as a method of improving the quality of sowing material: a review

Abstract

A b s t r a c t. The effect of magnetic field on the growth and yield of crop plants is presented based on 80 references on the studies of many authors. The introduction gives an outline of the history of the effect of magnetic field on biological organisms including plants since the second half of the 19th century. Then the role of static and alternating magnetic fields is discussed in relation to seed germination, root and stem growth, yield, protein and chlorophyll content, rhizosphere community.

Response of perennial woody plants to seed treatment by electromagnetic field and low‐temperature plasma

“…Physical treatments are considered to be more ecologically friendly than chemical treatments [Aladjadjiyan, 2012]. Improved seed performance (e.g., increase in germination by up to 20% in most cases) can be achieved for a large variety of annual plants after short-duration treatment of seeds with an electrostatic or pulsed electromagnetic field (EMF) (reviewed in Maffei [2014]; Pietrusziewski and Martinez [2015]), or low-temperature non-equilibrium plasma (or cold plasma, CP) (reviewed in Randeniya and de Groot [2015]). These stressors are a prospective inexpensive tool for inducing systemic eustress response in plant seeds: short exposure to EMF or CP leads to faster germination and seedling development followed by positive long-term effects on plant metabolism, biomass production, fruit ripening, nutritional quality [Racuciu et al, 2006;Bhardwaj et al, 2012], and disease resistance [Filatova et al, 2014;Jiang et al, 2014].…”

Effect of homogeneous static magnetic treatment on the adsorption capacity in maize seeds (Zea mays L.)

“…In the present work, the magnetic induction values are included in the range used by Vashisth and Nagarajan [] but with lower exposure time values. The use of different exposure doses ( D ), according to results obtained by equation [Pietruszewski and Martínez, ], indicates that the effect of the treatment with homogeneous static magnetic field on hygroscopic processes can be generated at different dose values where B is magnetic induction, is exposure time, and μ 0 is magnetic permeability constant of the vacuum.…”

Effect of Pre-sowing Magnetic Field Treatment on Some Biochemical and Physiological Processes in Faba Bean (Vicia faba L. spp. Minor)

“…Those authors elaborated a new model called "the magnetic-time model", that is, the product of magnetic induction and of the exposure time. Pietruszewski and Martinez (2015) showed that alternating magnetic field (35 mT) causes, relative to the control, a greater increase in germination capacity than the static field (100 and 185 mT). The paper of Nawroz and Hero (2010) and Iqbal et al (2012) confirmed that a magnetic field stimulates the process of seed germination and plant development, as well as improves yield and quality.…”

“…The prevailing view is that physical factors stimulating seeds to germinate act only on the course of physiological and biochemical processes which occur in them, and therefore, they are safe for the environment (Govindaraj et al 2017;Jamil et al 2012;Podleśny 1998;Podleśny et al 2003Podleśny et al , 2004. One of the physical factors that may be used in the stimulation of germination as well as growth and development of seedlings is a magnetic field (Rochalska 2005;Pietruszewski and Wójcik 2000;Pietruszewski and Martinez 2015). Literature reports indicate the mainly positive effects of treating seeds with a magnetic field, which is often referred to as magnetic stimulation for growth, development and yield of some cereal, maize, sunflower and vegetable species (Florez et al 2007;Martinez et al 2009;Zepeda-Bautista et al 2014).…”