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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

  • 30 December, 2023

  • 2 Min Read

E-Soil

Researchers have developed a new electronics soil that was found to increase the growth of barley seedlings by 50%.

  • It is a novel method of soilless gardening or hydroponics using an electrically conductive growing medium.
  • In hydroponic environments, eSoil is a low-power bioelectronics growth substrate that can electrically stimulate the root system and growth environment of plants.
  • This novel substrate is not only environmentally friendly, but also offers a low energy, safe alternative to previous methods that required high voltage and non-biodegradable materials.

eSoil is being derived from cellulose and a conductive polymer called PEDOT.

  • Working - When the roots of barley seedlings were electrically stimulated for 15 days, they showed a 50% increase in growth using eSoil.
  • In hydroponics, plants are grown without soil, requiring only water, nutrients and a substrate, something for their roots to attach to.

Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil, and can include an aggregate substrate, or growing media, such as vermiculite, coconut coir, or perlite.

  • This closed system allows water to be recirculated, ensuring that each seedling receives exactly the nutrients it needs.
  • As a result, very little water is used and all the nutrients remain in the system, something that is not possible with conventional farming.

Source:


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