Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Research Advisor
Whitworth, Thomas M.
Advisor's Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Abstract
The application of a weak electric current to soil can significantly stimulate the growth of plants. This technology can reduce requirements of fertilizer while dramatically increasing crop production and decreasing yield time. The costs involved are relatively cheap and can benefit the home gardener as well as the professional farmer.
In our research a weak DC current was applied through a series of electrodes to the soil surrounding test plants. This application and the resulting electrically enhanced movement of essential plant nutrients (electro-kinetics) and the electrically enhanced movement of water through the soil medium (electro-osmosis) demonstrated that bell pepper plants exposed to a constant weak (0.8V) DC electric current over a three-month period showed a 230% increase in biomass over untreated plants. The time required for vegetable production also decreased by over a month for the plants subjected to the current. Our continuing research involves the application of this weak current to native grasses of Missouri in order to determine if this technology can benefit not only agriculture but have favorable applications in environmental remediation as well as slope and soil stabilization.
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Presentation Date
2004-2005
Recommended Citation
Cable, John Wesley, "Analysis of the application of a DC current to enhance plant growth" (2004). Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE). 224.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/oure/224
