Agrochemical Effects Of Plasma-Treated Wate

Abstract

Plasma-treated water can positively influence on plants, but the effect depends on a type of plasma-generating setup. Experimental setup with rather short time of water treatment was created and biological effects of plasma-treated water produced by it were investigated. The setup generated electric-discharge low-temperature plasma in air bubbles moving through water. Electric discharges were initiated by high voltage pulses with amplitude of ~ 30 kV and rise front ~ 8 mks at frequency up to 500 Hz. After 2-3 minutes of water treatment by the electric-discharge plasma increase of electric conductivity and redox potential, concentrations of nitric acid were observed in water. Treatment of pumpkin, beet and pea seeds in experimental device (together with water) stimulated their germination. Plasma-treated water alone also stimulated germination of pea and bean seeds, increased yield of fruit body mass for oyster mushroom. Allium test showed inhibition of root growth by plasma-treated water due to its low pH, but neutralization with NaOH, Na2CO3 or Ca(OH)2 eliminated this effect. The authors suppose that the created setup can be applied in local crop farms for seeds disinfection and growth stimulation.