Written by Berke Ugur, Four Green Steps

Ever wonder if singing to your plants helps them grow? Numerous research studies show that sound waves have direct impact on the growth cycle& quality of a plant.

[1]Through years of research at the University of Minnesota, Dan Carlson determined the combination of frequencies found between 3,000 to 5,000 kHz causes the stomata of plants to open and absorb nutrients more efficiently, about 700 percent more than roots can absorb. He called this method the Sonic Boom.

The first phase of his test was experimented on a purple passion vine which normally grows about 45cm (18 inches) and lives a short time as stated in his paper. When the plant was exposed to the Sonic Bloom process it grew to 400 meters (1300 feet) about 800 times bigger than its normal size and lived way beyond its normal life span.  Its growth was verified by researchers from the Guinness Book of Records.

There were other interesting results to the Sonic Bloom method of acoustic gardening. The music attracted more birds and butterflies than usual. Mosquitoes and other pests are thus consumed and their threat to crops was significantly decreased. With less mosquitoes and pest, the plants grew healthier and with less disease. On the environmental side, since the method also worked on weeds, fewer herbicides were needed in controlling the crops because the weeds could absorb more treatment using actually less agents. This pest prevention method is used by government agencies like the Department of Natural Resources in the US[2].

Another independent researcher and a musician Joel Sternheimer, conducted a study on treating plant organisms with specific sounds. Sternheimer composed musical note sequences which help plants grow.

The sound sequences were specifically constructed melodies. Each note is chosen to match to an amino acid in a protein with the full tune corresponding to the entire protein[3]. Sternheimer claims that when plants "hear" the appropriate tune, they produce more of that protein

One of the pioneer researchers on the field, Dorothy Retallack chose to experiment with plants using different types of music as a laboratory experiment in order to complete her music degree.[4] Through trial and error she determined that plants prefer classical music - such as Brahms, Beethoven and Schubert - over rock and roll, such as Zeppelin and Hendrix.

Her research was summarized in Tompkins’s and Bird’s book: The Secret Life of Plants (1973).

Similarly [5]South Korean scientists have identified a hearing gene in plants by examining the DNA structure during exposure to classical music. Scientist played Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata in rice fields and they have identified plant genes that can "hear" and respond to music. After numerous experiments, the scientists concluded that exposure to classical music led to quicker growth in crops.

[1] http://originalsonicbloom.com/published/creation2000.htm

[2] http://originalsonicbloom.com/published/creation2000.htm

[3] http://www.rexresearch.com/agro/1strnhm.htm

[4] http://www.vortexbrewer.com/pdf/special_report_9_%20plants_and_sounds.pdf

[5] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3305158/Beethoven-can-help-crops-grow-more-quickly.html

Image courtesy of Creative Commons.

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