Developments in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) and water convolvulus (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.) yields by narrow-band nonionizing radiations

Abstract

A 50-Ω exposure chamber was constructed to provide a uniform electromagnetic (EM) field exposure environment for observations on the yields of mung beans ( Vigna radiata L.) and water convolvuluses ( Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.). The growth performances were compared at two radio frequencies (300 and 425 MHz) through several combinations of field strengths (1 and 100 mW) and exposure durations (1 and 2 h). Among both frequencies, the superior enhancements in average seedling length of both seed varieties were observed at 425 MHz. In addition, statistical analyses of the results show that at 300 MHz, both seed varieties required an exposure period of 2 h to result in the growth improvement, while at 425 MHz, mung beans demanded less exposure duration (1 h) than did water convolvuluses (2 h) to see the development, and this could be explained through the specific absorption rates of EM fields inside the area under test. Among exposure cases, the highest growth development of 48.5% (P < 0.01) was observed in mung bean treatment when the exposure combination was 100 mW, 1 h, and 425 MHz. © 2010 IEEE.