The Use of Electrostatic Field to Improve Soybean Seed Germination in Organic Production

Zlatica Mamlic,Sanja Vasiljevic,Goran Mamlic,Vojin Djukic,Gordana Dozet,Ivana Maksimovic,Petar Canak

doi:10.3390/agronomy11081473

Abstract

Soybean production in the system of organic agriculture is not very demanding, and this has been well documented both through experimental results and commercial production. However, one of the biggest problems in organic production is the lack of adequate pre-sowing treatments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of the electrostatic field. This is a physical treatment that was first used for seed treatment in the 18th century but has mostly been neglected since then. Seeds of five soybean genotypes with differently colored seed coats (yellow, green, dark green, brown, and black) were included in this study. The seeds were exposed to different values of direct current (DC) with the following voltages: 0 V (control), 3 V, 6 V, and 9 V, to which the seeds were exposed for 0 min (control), 1 min, and 3 min. After exposing the seeds to the electric field, the physiological properties of seeds and seedlings at the first stage of growth were evaluated. The results show that the effect of the electrostatic field on seed quality depends on the genotype, voltage, and exposure time. The application of DC can be a suitable method for improving seed germination and the initial growth of soybean seedlings. In addition, the results indicate that it is necessary to adjust the DC treatment (voltage and duration of exposure of seeds) to particular genotypes since inadequate treatments may reduce the quality of seeds.

Highlights

Organic production was created as a response to the environmental pollution caused by diverse activities of humans, urbanization, and the need to preserve biodiversity
The results show that the effect of the electrostatic field on seed quality depends on the genotype, voltage, and exposure time
ANOVA was carried out taking account of the major factors: genotype, the strength of the electric field (EF), the exposure time (ET), and their interaction (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Organic production was created as a response to the environmental pollution caused by diverse activities of humans, urbanization, and the need to preserve biodiversity. Different studies have shown that electroculture may enhance the germination of seeds [12] and growth rates of plants [13], and increase the yield of the crops [14]. The possibility of using soybeans of different seed colors in organic production led to the idea of studying the influence of the electrostatic field on soybean seed quality. The present research was conducted to study the influence of 3 V, 6 V, and 9 V DC electrostatic fields on germination and growth in seedlings of four soybean genotypes with differently colored seed coats. DC electrostatic fields on germination and growth in seedlings of four soybean geno3tyofp1e4s with differently colored seed coats. 22.2.2..EElleeccttrroossttaattiiccFFiieelldd((DDiirreeccttCCuurrrreenntt,,DDCC))aannddSSeeeeddTTreraetamtmenent t TThhee eelleeccttrroossttaattiicc fifieelldd wwaass ggeenneerraatteedd bbyy uussiinngg tthhee ffoolllloowwiinngg eeqquuiippmmeenntt ((FFiigguurree 22)). Electrodes, so that the seeds were placed directly on the electrode connected to the minus terminal of the battery source, and the second electrode (plus terminal of the battery sosuorucrec)e)wwasaspplalacceeddaatt aa ddiissttaanncceeoof f1 1cmcmfrofmromthethfierstfierlsetcetrloedcter.oEdlee.ctErloedcetrsofdoerms efodrma seqduaare sqmuaeraesumrienagsu1r0in×g 1100 c×m1.0 cm

Seed Germination Test

Germination Results

Conclusions