The Effects of Magnetic Fields on Plants Growth: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Climate change is a key global concern particularly in the field of agriculture. Farmers around the world mainly in developing countries are faced with the critical problem due to reduction of potential crop yields and a decrease in water availability for irrigation and increasing food demands to cover the population needs. As a result, water shortage and poor yield are being increasingly accepted as major limitations. Researchers have documented that magnetic treatment can conserve both the quantity and quality of water and crop yield. This paper presents an extensive survey of studies on the effects of the fields on plants over the past 20 years. Many aspects of plants growth, seed germination, yield, quality and water as affected by magnetic fields (MF) are investigated. The inconsistency and contradictory outcomes from the studies appear to indicate that the effects of MF on plants may be dependent on species and/or MF characteristics such as intensity and exposure time.