Study of variants of pre-sowing preparation of melon seeds in high voltage electric fields

Abstract

The research was conducted to study the influence of electrophysical effects on melon seeds and their development, as well as to identify the most effective variant of pre-sowing stimulation and treatment mode. As an agro-technological task, we evaluated the possibility of realising the development potential inherent in the seeds of melon plants, which could be realised using electrical stimulation, with minimal negative impact on the ecology of the environment. To study the effect of high voltage electric fields (DC, AC, pulse) on gourd seeds before sowing, a specially assembled setup was used. Treatment of pumpkin seeds in the electric field of constant high voltage showed that on the 3rd day there were 100% of germinated seeds, in the electric field of variable high voltage – 50%, in the electric field of pulsed high voltage – 30%, pumpkin seedling in the treatment in the electric field of constant high voltage was longer in 9.0 and 3.6 times than in the control and other treatments; treatment of watermelon seeds in the electric field of constant high voltage showed that on the 3rd day there were 70 % of germinated seeds, in the electric field of variable high voltage – 20 %, in the electric field of pulse high voltage – 40 %; watermelon germ at treatment of seeds in the electric field of constant high voltage was longer in 1,5…2,0 times than in the control and other treatments.2.0 times longer than in other treatments. High effect on the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms was observed when seeds were treated in the electric field of pulsed high voltage – the number of pathogenic microorganisms on the seed coat of watermelon and pumpkin was 4.25 and 4.1 times lower compared to the control; when treated in the electric field of constant high voltage, their number was also 3.0 times less, but the treatment of seeds in the electric field of alternating high voltage recorded an increase in pathogenic microflora in 2.0 and 1.2 times. The highest yields of watermelon and pumpkin were obtained with pre-sowing seed treatment in the electric field of constant high voltage – by 25.5 and 37.8 %; in the field of alternating voltage – by 15.7 and 27.0 %; in the field of pulse voltage – by 9.8 and 5.4 %.

Keywords

• melon crops
• electric field treatment
• seed germination
• number of pathogenic microorganisms
• yield