Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
One of the first things you'll notice is that your seeds may germinate faster. If you're
sowing a number of seeds, you can expect more of them to sprout, as the electric field
willincreasetheirchancesofgermination.Afterafewweeks,you'llthenseelongerstems,
followed shortly by greener leaves. Remember, the effects that are expressed through
electrical stimulation vary by species of plant, their growing environment and possibly by
other factors as well. As your plants grow, be sure to make a record of the effects that you
observe. More on this in the
next chapter
.
Soil Moisture Conditions
Keeping the soil moist may seem like the most important task considering that plants need
water to survive and, as mentioned earlier, electricity will not flow if the soil is too dry.
However, cycles of dry and moist soil can be beneficial. If the soil gets extremely dry, it
may limit the flow of electricity, giving the plants a rest from working in an accelerated
state. It may also help with giving the roots time to naturally work themselves down to
greater depths to search for more water and nutrients.
Remember, this isn't necessarily something to worry about where in the case there is a
period of drought, depending upon how the particular plant species reacts, the plants under
water-stress may be less susceptible to damage as compared to unelectrified plants.
pH
Most growers know that some plants prefer acidic soils while others prefer more neutral
soils.Whenplantingyourgarden,it'simportanttoknowthesoilconditionsthatyourplants
need for optimal growth.
Due to the electrolytic nature of electroculture, extreme pH conditions may occur at
electrode sites. These potential pH hotspots will slowly move from one side of the field
to the other. Thus, for people experimenting with large-scale, high-voltage systems where
the rates of electrolysis reaction may be significantly faster, it is advised that the active
electrodes be placed some distance away from the growing crop, to keep it from being
affected by pH extremes. Even under more mild operating conditions, the pH of the soil
will likely change over time.
Knowing how sensitive crops can be to pH changes, it would be wise to take some steps
ahead of time to prevent acid build-up at the positive electrode by using a buffering agent
such as agricultural lime. Another option might be giving the system a rest, allowing time
for the soil acids to disperse, especially after a rainfall, which can help push any free
hydrogen deeper into the soil mass.
