Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Power Source
When external electric fields are applied to plants, their cells respond in a number of ways.
These fields can be applied in a myriad of ways including:
• Application of direct-current (DC) power to the soil or to parts of the plant itself
• Application of time-varying voltage waveforms, e.g. AC (alternating current)
power or pulsed DC waveforms
• High voltage static or time-varying electric fields through the soil or air
While there may be some differences in the plants' physiological responses based on the
method of stimulation, the results will be similar to that of the DC stimulation approach,
which is the focus of this topic.
Optimal Power Levels
Best voltages for green stem plants are 1V, 3V and 5V. Best currents are 5
microAmps to 0.55 mA.
1
Note that different types of plants may respond negatively to a voltage that's too high. So, when
possible, try to keep the voltages you use at 5 volts or less. Exceptions: Some experimenters have found
that approximately 30 volts is sufficient for direct-tree stimulation, but for most in-soil electroculture,
this may be too way much overkill. Of course this all depends on soil type, conductivity, moisture
levels,andthedistancebetweentheelectrodes.Likewise,theymayalsorespondnegativelytotoomuch
electrical current. If this is the case (as determined by experimentation), a current-limiting resistor can
be added into the stimulation circuit between the battery and one of the electrodes, or alternatively, the
current density could be decreased through the use of a larger electrode. See the
electrode section
for
more details.
To electrify the soil, a source of power is needed. Depending upon your need, power can
be obtained from one or a combination of the following power sources:
• Dedicated line-powered power supplies
• Batteries
• Power generation equipment, e.g. solar panels
Line-Powered Power Supplies
