Ekonomika Poljoprivrede (1979) (Dec 2010)
Electric fields from high-voltage powerlines affect soil Penicillium sp activity in agro-ecosystems
Abstract
Amid increasing concerns over the food chain and ecological agriculture, raises the question whether the intense extra low frequency (ELF) electric (EF) and magnetic fields (MF) emanating from high voltage power-lines might be affecting microorganisms in the environment in topsoils below them. Their habitat in topsoils affords an easy route into the food chain, since arable lands and pasturelands are highly integrated agro-ecosystems. Since so far there had not been found a single organism or its part that would not be susceptible to EM fields, the aim of this investigation was to find if a soil microorganism Penicillium sp) could be affected by such fields and to what extent. Culture of that fungus derived from the same sites topsoil was exposed to 400, 275 and 132 kV powerlines, being placed under their midspans. Our results suggest possible impact of examined fields on certain elements of soil physiology.
