You may find the link below to be interesting reading:
Title: Effect of the presowing treatment of cucumber seeds with an electric field on the growth, development, and yield of plants.
Authors: Sal’nikov, A. I.; Kasatkina, M. G. Elabuga, USSR.
Published in: Elektronnaya Obrabotka Materialov, volumn 2, pages 76-9, (1978).
Abstract: “Plants from cucumber seeds subjected to an elec. field of 1-3 kV/cm for 30-90 s grew faster than control plants, had longer stems, more leaves per plant and a larger leaf area, showed higher respiratory and photosynthetic activities, and their fruits had higher dry matter, sugar, and ascorbate contents. The yield of the 4 varieties tested increased 11.3-35%. Optimum field intensity was 3 kV/cm and the optimum exposition time depending on variety was 60 or 90 s.”
Title: Characteristics of the effect of two centimeter radiation range on cereal crops.
Authors: Shein, A. G.; Krivonos, N. V. Volg GTU, Russia.
Published in: Biomeditsinskie Tekhnologii i Radioelektronika, volumn (4), pages 5-8, (2002).
Abstract: “Effect of low intensity high frequency radiation on selected seeds was studied. Such irradn. has different influence seeds’ germination capacity depending on the cultivar and season of the expt.”
Title: About the character of plant physiological reactions under the influence of exogenous chemical and physical growth regulators.
Authors: Kovalev, V. M. Mosk. S-kh. Akad. im. K. A. Timiryazeva, Moscow, Russia.
Published in: Sel’skokhozyaistvennaya Biologiya (1998), (1), pages 91-100.
Abstract: “The influence of exogenous growth factors of chem. (cartolin, epibrassinolide) and phys. (electromagnetic radiation) nature on growth and formation processes, hormonal status, photosynthetic activity, prod., and resistance was studied on various agricultural species and cultivars (perennial grasses, barley, potato) in lab, greenhouse, and field expts. Uniformity of plant physiol. reactions on treatment by cartoline and epibrassidinol, and electromagnetic radiation at stimulation doses was established. With qual. similarity of these reactions, the quant. differences in the effectiveness of chem. and phys. growth regulators is detd. by their penetrating ability; prolongating effect, and by genetic specificity of a plant. The use of exogenous growth regulators as one of the ways to solve some breeding problems is discussed.”
Title: Biological effect of magnetic field-free space on wheat.
Authors: Liu, Luxiang; Wang, Jing; Jin, Haiqiang; Zhang, Yifeng; Zhao, Linshu; Zheng, Qicheng; Chen, Wenhua; Zhao, Shirong.
Authors’ affiliation: Institute of Application of Atomic Energy, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, Peop. Rep. China.
Published in: Henong Xuebao, volumn 16, pages 2-7, (2002).
Abstract: “The biol. and genetic effects of magnetic field-free space treatment of air-dried seeds and anther culture of wheat were studied. The results showed that the seed germination and seedling growth were obviously inhibited by over 180 days of magnetic field- free space treatment on wheat seeds and totally different biol. effects from traditional g-ray treatment were obsd. The magnetic field-space treatment in the process of anther callus induction of wheat could stimulate the development of male gamete and final formation of calli, resulting in producing high quality anther calli and high percentage of green plants. The magnetic field-free space treatment increased the mutant types of doubled haploid population and could be used to upgrade the selection efficiency in wheat haploid breeding.”
Title: Study on mutagenic effect of magnetic field-free space on dry rice seed.
Authors: Yu, Qiuheng; Liu, Luxiang; Xu, Guozhan; Shi, Jinyu.
Authors’ affiliation: Institute for Application of Atomic Energy in Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Peop. Rep. China.
Published in: Henong Xuebao, volumn 16, pages 139-143, (2002).
Abstract: “Cytol. and biol. effects of magnetic-free space on dry rice seed were studied. The results showed that the chromosomal aberration rate was higher than that of controls, and the rates of chromosomal bridges and the micronucleus were greater than that of other types of aberration. The seed germination rate, seedling survival rate , seedling height and tilling were promoted in M1 generation. More segregation of characters such as early heading and fertility were appeared in M2 generation. In the all variations in M2, the highest rate of mutant type was early heading stage and the greatest segregation degree was fertility. The M2 segregation degree was in order of early heading > fertility > plant height > ear type > grain type. All mutant characters were generated steadily. It is concluded that there is a practical value in rice variety improvement by using the method of magnetic-free space treatment.”
What is a “magnetic field-free space”?
It doesn’t surprise me that plants would respond well to electric (EMF) fields. The EMF field should increase the amount of nitrogen in the soil and plant material. I
Sorry for not replying sooner. I was in Washington D.C. the past week. I assumed that a Faraday cage made up of grounded normal metal window screening would produce a magnetic free zone; but a Google search appears to indicate that a Faraday cage is not sufficient. It appears that a brute force heavy grounded conducting metal approach is required (even several layers).
See the following thread: http://chemnmr.colorado.edu/ammrl/archives/berkeley/ammrl/93/archive/0066.html