In a new development, scientists have designed “E-soil,” or electrically conductive soil, a breakthrough in agriculture that is said to enhance crop growth by 50%. The technique is based in hydroponics and is anticipated to resolve any potential future agricultural crises.
The research is titled “eSoil: A low-power bioelectronic growth scaffold that enhances crop seedling growth” and is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It was published on 26 Dec, and the researchers belong to Linkoping University, Sweden.
The new method of cultivation was tested to grow 50% more barley in 15 days. This is supposed to be the soilless cultivation method, also called hydroponics, that stimulates plant roots electrically through a new cultivation substrate.
What is “electronically conductive soil” or “e-soil”?
E-soil is an active material composed of an organic mixed-ionic electronic conductor, and its primary structural component is cellulose, which is also the most abundant biopolymer. It is used to give an electrical stimulation to the plant triggering growth.
E-soil is both environmentally friendly since it is derived from cellulose and PEDOT and it offers a low-energy and safe alternative to previous methods. Unlike older methods that use high-voltage and non-biodegradable materials, e-soil minimizes resource usage and utilizes an organic electronic conductor as its active material.
The researchers associated with the research stated that the development was made keeping in mind the climate change crisis and the population explosion observable in the world. It is believed that this electronic soil can keep up with the growing demand for grain. The existing agricultural methods, according to Eleni Stavrinidou from the Linkoping University of Sweden, may not keep up with future demands.
Advantages of e-soil
The noticeable improvement in growth of the plant in e-soil, affecting both roots and shoots occurs in the growth period following electrical stimulation. This suggests that the stimulation does not just create a momentary effect but begins processes that lead to lasting changes in plant development. Consequently, the positive effects can be attained through a stimulation treatment without the necessity for continuous stimulation throughout the entire plant growth.
Moreover, this study also seems to suggest that plants that receive electrical stimulation through e-soil can use and absorb a type of nitrogen from fertilizers more effectively than plants without stimulation. This means that using electrical stimulation might help reduce the amount of fertilizer needed for plants to grow well.
With this development, the requirements and conditions for growing grains decrease significantly. They can be easily grown in abundance in controlled locations even within urban environments without using soil.
What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a closed system allowing water recirculation and provides the exact required amount of nutrient delivery to seedlings. This ensures that water is conserved and nutrients are retained.
Additionally, hydroponics can also facilitate vertical farming in towers, especially in adjusting space for crops like lettuce and herbs. While grains are not commonly grown hydroponically, this study has demonstrated improved growth rates in barley seedlings through electrical stimulation. However, the exact biological mechanisms remain unclear.
In hydroponics, plants grow without soil with their roots in a nutrient solution. The common support material is rockwool which is made from non-biodegradable mineral wool that is created using a process. By using biodegradable materials instead of rockwool, like biopolymers, hydroponics can be made more sustainable and environmentally friendly as well.
According to Starvrinidou, this method enhances resource efficiency, particularly nitrogen processing yet further research is needed to understand the underlying processes. She also said, ““We can’t say that hydroponics will solve the problem of food security. But it can definitely help particularly in areas with little arable land and with harsh environmental conditions.”
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