Magnetic Treatment of Water and its application to agriculture

By Dr. Israel J. Lin and Jacob Yotvat of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel 

In controlled large-scale field experiments it was found that magnetic treatment affects the quality of irrigation water. It was shown that treated water contributes to an increase in farm yields in crop farming, yield being expressed in quantity and quality of the produce añd in the specific economic contribution. The level of return in individual farms depends on three key factors: the type of equipment, the water quality, and the mode of operation of the apparatus. In this work reference is made to the principles of the method, the range of possible applications in agriculture, and a report on field observations.

Sporadic references can be found in professional and popular literature to exposure of irrigation water to external force fields (mechanical, hydraulic, ultrasonic, electric, magnetic) with descriptions of resulting improvement in field—crop yields— vegetables, fruits, etc.

As regards magnetic treatment, it was reported in use in Eastern Block countries like U.S.S.R. and China, and to have proved effective for a wide range of crops. Hitherto, however, no systematic examination of the phenomenon was attempted; there were no publications on the underlying principle or mechanisms, nor was any commercial equipment offered in the West for controlled treatment of irrigation water.

Five years ago, following infrastructure studies, a research program was drawn up and a large scale series of field experiments was initiated, with a view to examining the effect of this treatment on agricultural yields in Israel.

FIELD FINDINGS

General data on application of the treatment in local livestock and crop farming were first published in 1988 [4,5]. Below is a brief summary of the findings at Kibbutz Gvat.

(a) Vegetable garden (July—August 1985) Continuous bed—type plots, treated plots 6m shorter than their control counterparts. Identical dosage and quality of irrigation water and fertilizers.

Main effects:

*Earlier ripening and superior yields (quantity & quality) in treated plots.

*Lettuce: marked difference in plant size, uniformity and growth period.

*Melons: (not included in report)

*squash: continued production and growth in treated plot after control plot began to show signs of drying.

 (c) Sweet corn (harvesting August 1988) Results summarized in Table 5. Yield extremely satisfactory in terms of quality & quantity. Ear length, diameter (husked), and average weight larger (11%) in treated plot.

Further experiments are in progress on cotton, grapefruit, melons and tomatoes - with soil, water quality, and climate (location and season) as variables [67]

TABLE 6 - COMPARATIVE EFFECTS - ANIMALS & PLANTS

In addition to the magnetic treatment being a production factor, it should be evaluated in the context of its suitability for a wide range of distinct crops in different agri-climatic environments. In the era of modern agriculture, it is natural to consider the contribution level of the proposed process against the background of the sophisticated techniques of intensive farming. The processed medium being water, the process is intended not as a substitute but rather as a reinforcement for the conventional means of increasing yields and improving quality at lower cost- the last name feature being a sine qua non for world-wide competitiveness.

Magnetic Water Treatment: Crop Trials - ADAS

This report prepared by A G Roberts, NDH, Protected Crops Consultant. Reproduced courtesy ADAS Research UK. #

The magnetic treatent of nutrient solutions in NFT was the subject of a recent research trial in the UK. Conducted by horticultural research organisation ADAS, the trial evaluated the effects of magnetic treatment on an NFT tomato crops between 1991 and 1993. Released last year, this report shows that the results indicate a yield advantage from the treatment. According to the makers of the Polar magnetic system used, the treatment improves suspension and prevents settlement of the nutrient. This in turn leads to a cleaner root system, possibly improving nutrient uptake and consequently yield.

Background

Magnetic treatment of tomatoes grown hydroponically using nutrient film technique was first evaluated commercially in the UK during the 1991-92 cropping season. A second year's evaluation was conducted in 1992-93 to see if the promising results obtained in the first trial could be repeated.

The site chosen for the evaluation was the nursery of leading tomato growers, name withheld, in the UK. The growers are very experienced and the nursery is well known for its modern technology and its use of NFT as a recirculating hydroponic system. Tomatoes growing hydroponically were chosen because it was felt that if treating the nutrient solution magnetically was an advantage, this benefit would be more readily observed in a free-flowing NFT system compared with substrate production (eg perlite, rockwool) where there are more variables.

 Yields

A comparison of yield from the two blocks was made as each block was picked on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. The first pick was on the untreated control was on 21 February 1993 with the first POLAR fruit picked 5 days later (26 February 1993). The last pick on the untreated was on 8 November 1993 and on POLAR on 9 November 1933.

The final crop yields were exceptionally good, considering that growing conditions were affected by below average light levels and long periods of wet weather.

During the first 3 months of picking, the untreated out-yielded the POLAR area. During May and June the POLAR yield of marketable fruit caught up and led by a small percentage (3.8%). The POLAR lead in yield was reduced again in July. POLAR out-yielded the untreated crop during the last four months of cropping with percentage increases of 9.4% August, 8.7% September, 19.8% October, and 1.9% November. By the end of cropping POLAR out-yielded the untreated by 5.4%.

 Fruit Quality

Observations were carried out throughout the 1992-93 growing season. The quality and shelf-life studies carried out by ADAS were simple visual assessments carried out at ambient room temperature. The fruit were spaced out on plates and were subject to normal day/night fluctuations in temperature and light.

For the first 4 months, the differences between the two treatments were very minor but marginally favoured the POLAR when the fruit appeared 'fresher' at picking. The shelf life assessment carried out in May indicated that both treatments produced comparable fruit which was of excellent quality 5 days from picking and remained firm for a further 22 days.

Observations during the months of June, July and August confirmed that the POLAR fruit was less blotchy, brighter coloured and displaying a 'bolder' calyx. When the fruit was packed in 5.4kg (12lb) boxes, the untreated fruit appeared fuller in the trays than those from the POLAR treatment which indicated that the POLAR fruit was denser. A test weighing of identical sized fruit (57 mm diameter) confirmed that on average each fruit weighed 90.8 g and 89.2 g for POLAR and untreated respectively. P> A further quality shelf life test carried out in August confirmed that at the 5-day post-harvest stage the POLAR fruit was of a brighter orange-red coloration than the untreated control. As in the previous test the fruit from both treatments remained in good marketable condition for 5 days and remained sound for a further 20 days at room temperature.

Quality when compared to the average UK marketed fruit quality was exceptionally good in the last month of picking. Although there was no obvious visual difference, the fruit from the POLAR treatment was firmer and had a taste preference to that of the untreated control.

A comparative study of the sensory characteristics during shelf life of the tomatoes was carried out by Campden Food and Drink research Association. An extract from their executive summary is quoted as follows.

"The highly trained sensory panel found that the POLAR treated tomatoes tended to be deeper in colour, more uniform, less firm*, less tough (skins), less pulpy, more juicy and stronger in flavour than untreated tomatoes. The length of storage increased the perceived depth of colour, uniformity, lightness, toughness and dry/pulpy attributes in both treatments. Whilst the attributes brightness, firmness, strength of flavour, acidity, savoury and green stemmy decreased over time."

 * It should be noted that firmness of flesh is that experienced during eating, and not according to touch.

 Conclusions

The observations on quality assessment indicate that magnetic treatment enhances the overall physical characteristics of the fruit, so increasing its potential marketability. This has been endorsed by an independent scientific assessment carried out during August 1993.

The pattern of development for the two seasons have been consistent with a considerable enhancement of yield in the last quarter of the season. This has resulted in the POLAR producing an economic benefit in both years of the evaluation.