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The Effect of Music On Plant Growth
The Effect of Music On Plant Growth
The Effect of Music On Plant Growth
Growth
Can Plants Feel?
Do plants have feelings? Can they feel pain? To the skeptic, the idea that plants have feelings and
can feel pain is ridiculous.
However, based on several studies, these seem to be true. Sir Jagadis Chandra Bose, an Indian
plant physiologist and physicist, spent a lifetime researching and studying the various environmental
responses of plants and concluded that plants react to the attitude with which they were nurtured. He
also proved that plants, just like human beings, are sensitive to external environment such as light,
cold, heat and noise.
These were well documented in his books 'Response in the Living and Non-Living published in1902
and 'The Nervous Mechanism of Plants' published in 1926.
Talk to Plants
Another American botanist and horticulturist, Luther Burbank, studied in what way plant will react
when removed from their natural habitat. He talked to his plants and from his horticultural
experiments; he attributed around 20 sensory perceptions to plants. His studies were inspired by the
work of Charles Darwin 'The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication' published in
1868.
The bare footed Indian Bharata Natyam dance, with leg bells
Source: Centro Culturale Khatawat, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.com
These experiments seem to conclude that plants will respond best to classical music and Indian
devotional music.
MythBusters, a science entertainment TV program, did similar experiment and concluded that plant
reacted well to any type of music whether rock, country, jazz or classical. Their experiments
however, were commented as not thoroughly conducted and highly debatable.
The Secret Life of Plants: a Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual
Relations Between Plants and Man
The book has short description of the experiments with a brief biography of these scientists. It is not
an easy read. However, if you are looking for facts, then this is the book for you.
The 91-hectare vineyard experimented with one block exposed to baroque music and the other
block without any music. This is to allow the vineyard owner to monitor and observe any differences
in the production. This exposure to classical music started in late 2008.
The musical repertoire consisted of 2,473 pieces of classical baroque music. With this vast
collection, they can play the music nonstop for 7.5 days without repeating.
Despite the outcome of the experiment by Dorothy Retallack where plants exposed for 8-hour period
died two weeks later, DeMorgenzon wine estate played the music around the clock with no negative
result. They played the baroque music not just in the vineyard, but also in the wine cellar as well as
in the tasting room.
Vineyard in Tuscany
Another vineyard Paradiso di Frassinain Tuscany, Italy, uses classical music to get better production
from its vineyards.
They observed that vine plants mature faster when exposed to the soothing sounds of Mozart,
Vivaldi, Haydn and Mahler as compared to the controlled site.
This project to wire the vineyard for musical sound started in 2001 as an ecological way to keep
pests away. However, when they saw better and improved plants and fruits, the project continued
ever since as a 'productivity tool'.
Just like DeMorgenzon wine estate, the music is played non-stop 24 hours a day with no negative
results.
It was reported in The Telegraph newspaper that scientists from National Institute of Agricultural
Biotechnology in Suwon, South Korea played classical music in rice fields, and concluded that plant
genes can "hear" and had improved yield. The research was published in August 2007 issue of New
Scientist. This finding, however, received negative comments from some quarters that cited external
factors such as wind that might have drowned out the effects for the experiment to be effective.
Others say too few samples were analyzed for it to be conclusive.
Citing the works of professors in physics and theology, but not in biology