Enhancing Spinach Productivity with Plant Acoustic Frequency Technology in Wick Hydroponics
Yusuf Hendrawan*, Verrel Alvirizky, Gunomo Djoyowasito, Retno Damayanti, La Choviya Hawa

Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran, Malang, ZIP 65145, Indonesia

yusuf_h[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

Spinach (Amaranthus sp.) is a vegetable commonly cultivated using hydroponic systems. Increasing market demand has necessitated innovations to enhance spinach productivity. One such innovation involves hydroponic technology improvements for spinach cultivation. Plant acoustic frequency technology has been shown in several studies to boost the productivity of vegetable plants by utilizing high-frequency sound directly exposed to the plants. This high-frequency sound stimulates the stomata, or leaf pores, to open wider, allowing for more optimal nutrient absorption. This study aimed to analyze the effect of plant acoustic frequency technology on the productivity of spinach grown using wick hydroponics. The study employed two treatment factors: frequency (3000 Hz, 8000 Hz, and 13000 Hz) and exposure time (1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours). The vegetative parameters observed included plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, wet weight, leaf greenness index, and root length. The results indicated that applying plant acoustic frequency technology produced better outcomes than no treatment. Both the frequency and exposure time significantly affected spinach plant growth, with the best results achieved at a frequency of 3000 Hz and an exposure time of 3 hours.

Keywords: frequency- plant acoustic- spinach- wick hydroponics

Topic: Agricultural and bioprocess engineering