Researchers have created an ‘electronic soil’ that has been shown to boost crop growth by 50%

Researchers from Linkoping University in Sweden have created an innovative electrically conductive ‘soil’ known as eSoil, which has demonstrated a remarkable 50% increase in barley seedling growth over 15 days when the roots were electrically stimulated. Their findings were published in the journal PNAS.

This development falls under the category of hydroponics, a soilless cultivation method. In hydroponics, plants grow without soil, relying solely on water, nutrients, and a substrate for root attachment. This system is closed and recirculates water, ensuring precise nutrient delivery to each seedling. This efficiency means that hydroponics requires minimal water and keeps all nutrients within the system, a feat not achievable with traditional cultivation methods.

Eleni Stavrinidou, an associate professor at Linkoping University, highlighted the significance of this method in light of the rising global population and climate change. She pointed out that conventional agricultural methods might not suffice to meet future food demands, but hydroponics can facilitate food growth in controlled urban settings.

The study chose barley as the test crop, diverging from the typical use of hydroponics for lettuce, herbs, and certain vegetables. Barley is generally not grown hydroponically, except for fodder purposes. The results were impressive, showing that barley seedlings in the conductive eSoil exhibited up to 50% more growth in 15 days. This proves that hydroponics can be effectively used for barley cultivation and that electrical stimulation can enhance growth rates.

A notable aspect of the eSoil is its composition of cellulose, in contrast to the commonly used mineral wool, which is non-biodegradable and requires a high-energy production process. Cellulose, being the most abundant biopolymer, is a more sustainable choice.

The study also underlined that unlike previous research that relied on high voltage for root stimulation, this new eSoil requires very low energy and poses no high voltage risks.

Stavrinidou believes this breakthrough opens new avenues for advancing hydroponic cultivation research. While it may not entirely solve the global food security issue, it can significantly contribute, especially in regions with limited arable land and challenging environmental conditions.