Abstract
ELECTRO-CULTURE has to take into account the effects of electric heating, electric lighting and the voltage stress on the life of plants. The first applica-tion of electricity took the form of high-voltage discharges produced in close proximity to various plants in an endeavour to obtain artificial stimulation. In the Engineering Supplement for May of Siemens Magazine, a survey is given of recent developments, and the photographs shown of the effects produced are convincing. It has often been noticed that an increased growth of crops sometimes occurs during thundery weather. In the Arctic, where the average atmospheric potential gradient is high, it has been observed that the growth of vegetation during the short summer is more vigorous than in southern climates. Experiments have been carried out on cereals, potatoes, beets, tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries, and increases up to forty per cent have been obtained. Electricity in the form of light was the next application in the aid of horticulture. For vigorous plant growth a minimum of about 4 hours of sunshine and altogether about 10 hours of daylight per day are required. As an example of the effect obtained by providing lighting for 10 hours each night with an illumination of about 4 foot candles, pansies after 83 days gave an average of approxi-mately 16 flowers per plant as against 2 flowers for unlighted plants; and asters after 157 days' treat-ment bloomed 33 days earlier than usual. The red-yellow rays accelerate growth by stimulating the chlorophyll and the absorption of carbonic acid. Electric cables are also described which are used for heating the soil, and excellent economical results have been obtained.
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Electricity in Horticulture. Nature 138, 70–71 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/138070c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/138070c0