Impact of RF electromagnetic field on cucumber and tomato plants

Agriculture sector is one of the essential sectors to any nation. This sector is a challenging domain worldwide due to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. The search for finding new agricultural technologies to enhance the crop productivity is a prime goal. Exposure of crop seeds or plants from short to longer term radio frequency and electromagnetic fields may have positive or negative effects on plant growth/development and final productivity. The focus of the research work was to study the impact of fixed radio frequency and electromagnetic field exposures on cucumber and tomato plants growth/development and leaf membrane stability. Initial results of studies showed that the electromagnetic field treatment generated a little stressed environment to crop plants. Both crop plants demonstrated reduced plant growth and development with impaired membrane. This phenomenon was more distinct as the treatment time proceeded. The higher electrolyte leakage coupled with reduced plant growth and development may be a function of free radical processes prompted by the EMF environment.