Effect of externally applied electrostatic fields, microwave radiation and electric currents on plants and other organisms, with special reference to weed control

Journal Article · · Bot. Rev.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861092· OSTI ID:5926028

Diprose, M F; Benson, F A; Willis, A J

High electric fields are reported to damage plants if currents greater than 10/sup -6/ A are induced to flow through leaves causing corona discharges from the tips. The nature of the damage and the effects on metabolic processes are discussed. The results from experiments on the growth of plants in which the density and charge of air ions have been varied are also reviewed. The effects of microwave radiation (mostly 2450 MHz) upon seeds, plants and other organisms in soil are discussed. These effects depend upon the power density of the radiation and the electrical properties of the targets. Although microwaves can be effective in killing plants and also seeds that are buried several centimeters deep in soil, high power equipment is required and treatment times are long e.g. a 60 kW machine could take up to 92.6 hours per hectare. Other experiments reported show that microwave radiation can kill nematodes in the soil and that it is also very effective in killing fungi and bacteria. The potential of the various possible uses of microwave radiation in agriculture is also described. Electric currents have been caused to flow through plants by the applicaton of electrodes to the leaves. The effects range from nil, when 50-100 V and 1 or 2 ..mu..A are used, to very striking when voltages from 5 to 15 kV are applied causing currents of several amperes to flow and resulting in the rapid destruction of the target. Small electric currents passed through soil containing plants are reported to increase their growth. The effects of small current on the growth of individual leaves are reviewed. The use of high voltage tractor-borne equipment for weed control is also considered. 152 references, 9 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Sheffield, England
• OSTI ID: 5926028
• Journal Information: Bot. Rev.; (United States), Journal Name: Bot. Rev.; (United States) Vol. 50:2; ISSN BOREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASCHELMINTHES
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FUNGI
GROWTH
HELMINTHS
INJURIES
LEAVES
MICROORGANISMS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NEMATODES
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
RADIATIONS
SEEDS
WEEDS