Abstract
M.Tech. (Electrical Engineering)
For securing food production it is essential that every possible method should be investigated. This study is about utilising low power radio frequency (RF) energy signals from leaky transmission lines for the benefit of plant growth and production in hydroponic systems. Using these lines eliminates common problems like radiation interference and licence application protocols.
Plant cell walls are covered with tightly-bonded, positively-charged calcium ions that affect the inflow of nutrients into the cell. As calcium ions have a mass twice that of the potassium ion, the fundamental harmonic of calcium is equal to the first harmonic of potassium (32Hz). Thousands (10k : 1) fewer positive potassium ions also exist around the cell wall and when stimulated at their resonance frequency (16Hz), they will bounce against the tightly bonded calcium ions so these calcium ions become dislodged from the cell wall. If this happens more nutrients can enter the cell causing acceleration in plant growth. A suitable electromagnetic wave for such an action is the amplitude modulated wave especially if it is modulated near the cyclotron resonance frequency of potassium (16Hz) or its even-harmonics of 32,64Hz etc.
Applying sufficient energy in the lower modulated frequency when it is the same as the vibration frequency of the potassium ions surrounding the cell wall, these ions will then acquire some energy from the electrical wave. Controlling the process is important because if too many calcium ions are released it would cause plant stress and plant structure breakdown. The amplitude modulated wave will allow sufficient time for the calcium ions to return to the cell wall during the period without energy.
To apply radio energy to a plant in the form of amplitude modulated signals requires a medium. One such medium is the use of transmitting energy into two leaky transmission lines to cause worse case standing waves, which could then be absorbed by the plants that are placed in between these transmission lines. The energy from the radio waves is then used to create window periods during which the calcium ions are dislodged allowing additional nutrients to enter the plant cell, enhancing plant growth and production.