Archive for the ‘Agriculture, Crop Science’ Category

Plants respond to Sound, Music

We have heard countless stories from local folks, maybe even from our own parents and grandparents, that plants respond to music or sound. Some of you might have experienced this yourself. There are videos that show this. One early work that I had watched is The Secret Life of Plants  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAR_B0mBoVA&feature=related.

One recent article find on the subject is from  https://www.musicforyourplants.com/. Topics below are in that article:

How do plants respond to music, sound frequencies or harmonic sound waves

The Effects of Variable Sound Frequencies on Plant Growth and Development

Experiments from India shows increase in yield of Rice 

Vedic music from India to Harmonize the Environment and increase Rice Yields 

French Physicist discovered music, plant and protein biosynthesis relation

They are of great interest to one who wants to further improve crop performance, or who simply wants know if indeed there is a science to talking or singing/playing music to plants. Some researchers or enthusiasts have recorded the sound that plants make and are intrigued by this phenomenon (for example-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZaokNmQ4eY&feature=related).

https://digitaljournal.com/article/322993

Sound from the plant and sound to the plant… that is resonance at play. Then there is this other interesting phenomenon… the effect of sound of animals like birds, insects and frogs on plant physiology.https://www.newphysis.com/dawnchorus.html. Gadgets like the sonic bloom are being offered to enhance the effect (https://www.relfe.com/sonic_bloom.html). Quantumizing agriculture thus includes utilizing sound and promoting biodiversity so plants (and animals) grow better.

The Science behind sound effect on living organisms and in agriculture is well presented in the article “The effects of sound on living organisms. Applications in agriculture” written by Yannick Van Doorne, ECOSONIC.

 

Here is another article that might be of interest and which lends credence to the science of sound and its effect on plants- “French Physicist Creates New Melodies – Plant Songs” .

 

An here is a blog that I encountered reposting effect of sound in different plants and seeds, esp on dandelion:

https://seedambassadors.org/2007/01/17/the-effects-of-musical-notes-on-dandelions-bingenheimer-part-2/#more-247

In the Philippines I have been recently introduced to John Lesaca (https://www.johnlesaca.com/ ). He is a violinist who uses classical music to stimulate the growth of his organic veggies on his farm in Malvar, Batangas. He uses music to enhance the growth not only of his veggies but also of his free range chicken in his commercial farm.

Seed Summit Presentation: Quantum Organic Seed

I would like to share with the you a set of slides that I used in my presentation in the Seed Summit sponsored by the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Philippine Seed Industry Association last March 27, 2012. (download it here) My topic was about Organic Seed Production. Many players in the seed industry are curious what really are the criteria for organic seed, and why this is important in organic crop production.

The answer to the why question can be made easier and comprehensible if the discussion is brought to quantum level, or to the realm of subtle energies and forces. The seed, although quite far back in the total production process, would be the one to bring holistic change to the entire system. The question is, would knowing the value and science behind organic seed be enough for the key players to embrace organic? What should be the drivers of change? What would be needed so that the intention and will become action?

Please send in your comments and suggestions, to help nourish the seedling of transformation that has been planted in the hearts of people asking for change. Thank you.

Organic Seeds as Basis for Sustainable Agriculture

by PAMELA G FERNANDEZ


Based on ‘Organic Seed: Implications For Sustainable Agriculture,’ SEARCA Professorial Chair Lecture, July 11 2001, Department of Agronomy, UP Los Banos, College, Laguna, 162 pp. The original manuscript was designed as a sourcebook on organic seed and sustainable agriculture.
Professor, Department of Agronomy-Crop Science Cluster, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna 4031, The Philippines.

 

The demand for organic products in the global market reached US$ 20B in 2001. In Europe, there is a very strong formal initiative for organic seed. Organic seed is a requirement in organic agriculture, according to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and other international as well as local organic initiatives. An organic movement in the Philippines has launched an organic standard for certification this year.

For both local and international use, the criteria for organic seed currently are, and should be at the minimum, based on the principles set for organic production systems, ranging from organic plant breeding (for variety development) to seed utilization (for crop production and eventually processing and marketing). The paper expands the list of criteria to include pre-plant breeding steps, ie, genetic conservation especially by the informal sector. Biodynamic farming principles provide much of the basis of the organic agriculture criteria, while the use (as well as products) of genetic engineering is banned in varietal development, farm inputs and processing. Tissue culture and Fi hybrid development especially through cytoplasmic male sterility are highly restricted in the production of organic seed.

Organic systems provide overwhelming advantages over non-organic systems. Benefits derived from and constraints related to organic seed and farming are given. Differences between opposite systems (ie, chemical or non-organic vs organic farming given the different forms) are presented in terms of effect on soil health/quality, product yield and quality (storability, losses, nutritional value, animal health, and vital energy). Three techniques (crystallography, chromatography and photon emission) which are well used in biodynamic agriculture, provide graphic comparisons of the products of two opposite systems (organic and chemical
farming).

Mechanisms or biochemical/physical bases for better storability of organic products are further explored; the result points to the realm of the relatively new concept of ‘glass’. Water in glass state and other natural substances (such as sugars) that enhance the glass state, can be contributory factors to the longer shelf-life of organic seed, other crop produce and processed food products. The current use of formally produced/bred organic seed in the Philippines is low but if the contributions of indigenous and local seeds/breeds are included, the number improves considerably. The prospect of organic seed partly depends on the success of organic certification in the country, the demand abroad for organic seed and products, and the presence of local companies who will go into this business. A large part of this success, however, will be determined by how successful local initiatives will be in community seedbanking/genetic conservation, and by improved general awareness and willingness of consumers to pay for organic produce.

 

You can download the whole article in PDF here:
https://www.cabi.org/gara/FullTextPDF/2009/20093019285.pdf

Pocahontas’ Colors of the Wind in Filipino

In one of the subjects that I teach students prepare some video to relate to the course and to their own talent and interest.

Here is one that Zeta Sanchez produced with her groupmates  Desiree Orence and Astrud Cabuscabus. Each student and the collective/group pose as a seed of change, the seed being the actual seed (as the class is on Seed Technology), or the person/s as agent/s of change. The Filipinized lyric is as follows:

Kulay ng Hangin
(Filipino-Tagalog translation of Pocahontas’ Theme Song: Colors of the Wind)
Translated by Zeta Sanchez
Inspired by the video “Home”

Akala mo’y sa ’yo ang lahat ng bagay
Mundo’y masasabi mo ng patay
Mga ilog, dagat dati’y kay linis
At ngayon, kay itim na at dumi

Kalbong bundok ngayon ang makikita
Na dati’y luntian at kay ganda
Mga hayop ngayon ay wala na
Di ba nga tayo rin ang may gawa?

Naririnig mo ba’ng pagtangis ng bituin sa gabi
Kasabay ng kalungkutan ng buwan
Hinanaing ng bawat isa sa ami’y pakinggan
Sa hangin ibubulong itong hiling
Na’ng ang dasal sa langit ay makarating

Ulan man o lupa’y ating karamay
Mga isda’t ibon ay kaibigan
Bawat buhay sa mundo ay may ugnayan
Sa isa’t-isa na di mapuputol nino man

Ang ‘yong mata ay imulat na
Kumilos ka’t baguhin ang ‘yong sarili

At hindi na liligalig ang bituin at buwan
Mga dasal nati’y pinakinggan
Baguhin ang sarili’t buksan ang isipan
Sa hangin ibinulong itong hiling
Na ang tao’y alisin sa silid na madilim
Upang masagip ng tao ang mundo

THE BIODYNAMIC WORKSHOP – An Outer & inner Quest for Sustainable Farming


Thirty-four people from Luzon to Mindanao gathered at the Vidar Garden 2.0 at Libongcogon, Iloilo to participate in the 5-day (Aug. 17 to 21) Biodynamic workshop facilitated by Nick Perlas.  Many were farmers, some educators, doctors, hobby gardeners, religious, mothers, and businessmen.

 

The first hours in the morning were spent in observation of nature. Learning to observe,  immersing oneself, listening.   Nick had thankfully prepared a narrow gravel pathway edged with bamboo.  Beside this pathway was deep muddy sludge.  Sunflowers and zinnias and mature okras lined the path.  The farm itself is edged by trees.  There is a river running nearby.  This is originally a swampy area with heavy clay soil.  Soil was dug up to raise the farming area thereby forming ponds and trenches.  A diversity of weeds and grasses abound making the area ahaven for wildlife.   Those who did not take the matter of bringing boots seriously had a surprise.  They had to trudge in the mud.  Joffel, a farmer, enjoyed being barefoot and we secretly admired his feeling of freedom.   Nick brought us to the compost piles, one a BD compost, another one, an organic compost.  Our untrained noses were challenged to smell the difference.

Every day early mornings and late afternoons were spent outdoors before the heat of the day descends in full blast.  We were blessed in that most days were sunny. As if by arrangement it rained before and after the workshop week.  We prepared a plot (1×10 m) from scratch.  Wild grasses were cut and their resistant roots dug up.  A trench was dug to bring soil up for the plot.  34 pairs of hands helped in crumbling the clay soil, our hands happily squeezing the mud.  We took turns making a vortex from a BD preparation with water.  Then this solution was sprinkled on the new plot.  The next day we transplanted lettuce seeds after which we spread a mulch of dried rice straw to prevent compaction from rain and from the soil drying up.

Following the BD sowing calendar, we started lettuce seeds by wetting tissue paper.  Each one also planted Terry’s sweet papaya seeds in black bags, including an avocado.  One afternoon was spent in preparing a BD compost from scratch which included using the BD preparations 502 to 507.  These preparations stimulate the life energies of the pile, and are used to “manage the formative life forces that abound in the farm”.

Our workshop indoors challenged us to answer questions like Why am I here?Why did we start with a walk around the farm? What did I observe on the field? What are the hazards of chemical farming? What and where is the plant?  A plant study was made by groups one afternoon.  We observed patterns in the plant growth (of expansion and contraction) and other phenomena.  We answered the question What is the spiritual function of food?, and came to realize that eating processed food, junk food, chemical laden foods or chemical-mimicking food is actually blocking the body from being a worthy receptacle for the divine.

A sharing from Gilbert of Dumaguete Mission Node with promptings from Teresa re China’s rice production problems….led us, in short, to the 3 gorges dam project in China is a failure.  Many parts of China is drying up, even lakes.  China is looking into other countries including the Philippines to lease huge tracts of land to grow rice to export and feed the Chinese.  They will use our land and our people to grow rice for them.  Many questions arise.  Will they require the use of chemical farming?  What about our own needs to feed our own people?  Gilbert is encouraged to write about this in more detail to the MISSION group.

We come up with more questions.  How do we revive the respect for agriculture?  How do we bring back the dignity due to the farmer?  We see that in working the land these past few days, we were sweating, huffing and puffing.  We are suddenly made aware of the hard work our farmers give to be able to produce and feed us real food.  We realize that, as the workshop ended, our baby steps towards biodynamic  farming are just beginning.

 

Report by
Esther Windler
MISSION Dumaguete

 

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WAVE OF CHANGE

A new wave of change is here. This wave permeates all aspects of human and earth existence. On the other hand, new knowledge is being revealed and new tools are being developed to answer current challenges: illnesses, pests and diseases, climate changes, calamities, etc. Approaches have been 2-pronged: one hangs on to the old mechanistic reductionist model, the other explores what is beyond that, as well as the fundamental role of human beings in addressing all these challenges in a synthesis way. Einstein’s premise is that we cannot find solution to our problems with approaches that come from the same framework that created the problem in the first place. These solutions must be coming from outside the box. And that outside the box space has been there all along, among ancient practices and teachings, and is now confirmed by the new science of “quantum”.

Watch This!


“…Siegel buzzes around the globe and deep into the hive… Honey has never looked so delicious. Or so precious.”
- Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times, Critic’s Pick
-New York Daily News
- The New York Post