Effects of Sound Pitch Frequency on Brassica Rapa Growth and Germination

1. Effects of Sound Pitch Frequency on Brassica Rapa Growth and Germination JamesCarr

2. Need -Nitrogen is by far the most important single nutrient applied in fertilizer to assure maximum yield and fruit quality -Increasing in price most has been ammonium nitrate, the workhorse N fertilizer used by citrus growers (2004- 0.30$ per pound, &200-205$ per ton. 2005- 0.41$ per pound, & 275-285$ per ton -Ten years ago, the U.S. was the world's largest exporter of N fertilizer; now we are the largest importer (Obreza, 2008, Parsons, 2008, Morgan, 2008) -It is now very important to find ways to find alternatives to stimulate growing plants

3. Abstract With a major increase in price for importing and exporting ammonium nitrate, the workhorse N fertilizer, new stimulation for plant growth must be found. Through numerous experiments and testing, it is known that in some cases, sound’s pitch frequency will encourage the growth in height and an increase in quality in plants. In this experiment, tests were done on brassica rapa- a common mustard plant, in the most valuable growth sequences of their life span. These sequences occur during germination periods (days 1-3), and during the final sprouting and development period for the plants (days 17-19). Control groups will be used for each experiment, where the plants will grow in silence, and there will be variable groups, during which the brassica rapa will be exposed to 100 megacycle frequency. Statistical analysis will be used by acquiring averages in brasssica rapa growth height in cm., for each control group, and each variable group.

4. Knowledge Base From days 1-3 of growth, frequency can affect vascular rays and young, developing seedlings. From days 17-19, frequency will not significantly stimulate or delay plant growth. Physical characteristics will be more affected; cotyledon develpoment Vascular rays- cells in the root that carry the water sideways, can be stimulated through sound, speeding up, and heightening plant growth. The average growth of fast plants from days 1-3 is around 3.3 cm, and from 17-19 is around 1-1.5 cm. Sound can increase the rate of this growth progression.

5. Literature Review Gaylord T. Hageseth (1973) ran similar tests on brassicarapa, testing sound-pressure level and the frequency of the impinging sound waves. Silence, and frequncies of 100, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 9000 hertz were tested. Tests on zucchini seeds by Katherine Creath and Gary E. Schwartz (2004) show that sound had a highly statistically significant effect on the number of seeds sprouted compared to the untreated control over all 5 experiments overtime (p<.000002)

6. Purpose Hypothesis • Purpose- to measure height of brassica rapa after testing to determine if sound frequency has an effect on brassica rapa growth height • Hypothesis suggests that means of the control of silence and variable of 100 megacycle frequency will differentiate (mean C ≠ mean V1)

7. Methodology Effects of Sound Pitch Frequency on Brassica Rapa Growth 100 megacycle frequency Silence Days 1-3, 17-19 growth Days 1-3, 17-19 growth 6 pm- 6am exposure constant Height (cm) growth Statistical Analysis SPSS, T-test