The development of ‘electronic soil by scientists at Linkoping University in Sweden marks a significant advancement in agricultural technology, offering a potential solution to some of the challenges posed by a growing global population and changing climate.
Unlike traditional substrates like mineral wool, which are non-biodegradable and manufactured using energy-intensive processes, eSoil is composed of cellulose, a biopolymer, blended with a conductive polymer known as PEDOT (Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene).
This innovative blend of materials allows for the stimulation of root systems in plants through low-power electrical currents.
The newly developed eSoil that stimulated root systems The newly developed ‘electronic soil’ or oil has been shown to increase the growth of barley seedlings by 50% within 15 days in a new study. The low-power bioelectronic scaffolding can be used for soilless cultivation methods like hydroponics. Revolutionary Electronic Soil Boosts Crop Growth by 50%, Unleashing New Potential for Sustainable Agriculture. By enabling a 50% increase in crop growth, efficient resource utilisation, and sustainable cultivation even in urban landscapes, this innovation could play a critical role in future food security. The electronic soil (eSoil) developed is a novel conductive cultivation substrate tailored specifically for hydroponic systems.
Benefits:
1. Enhanced Crop Growth: The newly developed ‘electronic soil’ or oil has been shown to increase the growth of barley seedlings by 50% within 15 days.
2. Efficient Resource Use: Hydroponic cultivation with electrical stimulation has been observed to make seedlings process nitrogen more efficiently, thus conserving resources.
3. Urban Agriculture: Hydroponics coupled with eSoil can be potentially helpful in addressing global food demands, especially in urban settings where arable land is limited.
4. Sustainable Alternative: oil, made from cellulose and a conductive polymer known as PEDOT, offers a sustainable alternative to the non-biodegradable mineral wool traditionally used in hydroponics.
5. Low Energy Consumption: Unlike previous methods that used high voltage for root stimulation, this new approach consumes significantly less energy and eliminates high voltage hazards.
A diagram of Barley germination process on eSoil:
