Sweden: Stimulate barley growth electrically in hydroponics?

Barley sprouts grow, on average, up to 50% more in 15 days when their root system is electrically stimulated through a new growing substrate. The conclusion is from a study by the University of Linköping, in Sweden, which developed an electrically conductive ‘soil’ for hydroponics. According to the university, researchers developed an electrically conductive growing substrate adapted to hydroponic cultivation that they called eSoil. Cereals are not typically grown hydroponically apart from their use as fodder, something the study wanted to counter. “This way, we can make the shoots grow faster with fewer resources. We still don't know how it really works, what biological mechanisms are involved. What we found is that the sprouts process nitrogen more efficiently, but it is not yet clear how electrical stimulation affects this process”, says project leader Eleni Starvrinidou. Rockwool is often used as a growing substrate in hydroponics. Not only is this not biodegradable, it is ...