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Magneto-Priming: A Novel Technique Towards Improved Seed Germinability

5.5 CONCLUSION

Our planet Earth has its own magnetic field that is known as the geomag­

netic field and this geomagnetic field has obvious consequences on the

biosphere present on the Earth. Further, with the advent of the progress of

science during the last century and with the events of modernization of our

society, we are now habituated to using many types of equipment in our

daily life ranging from scientific appliances to medical instruments or from

mobile towers to latest war devices, and thereby we are being exposed

knowingly or inadvertently to the magnetic field at every moment. There­

fore, these man-made magnetic fields of various kinds and strengths along

with the geomagnetic field are constantly influencing the living beings on

the Earth including the crop plants. Although the magnetic field of higher

strength has some negative influences on plants depending on the types

of species and the environmental conditions, but many researchers have

already established that magnetic field at low intensity can improve overall

growth and development of plants, crop productivity, and adaptations

against different stresses. Thus, the magnetic exposure of seeds prior to

sowing would be an effective modulator in the agricultural sector to build

a good crop stand, improve plant growth and enhance yield. However, the

elucidation of the effect of geophysical fields such as the geomagnetic field

on plants is very challenging as the setting up of specific experimental

design is not only problematic rather hard to comprehend. Till now, we

have very little information about the biochemical reactions, physiological

processes, and expression of specific genes or molecular mechanisms

happening within living organisms after being exposed to a magnetic field

and this indicates that a lot of knowledge is yet to be accomplished in this

field. Thus, there is an urgent need to undertake extensive research on the

influences of magnetic fields on crop plants as well as on the other living

organisms present on the Earth to unravel the mechanisms involved in seed

magnetization completely. Such research would lead to explore various

pros and cons of seed magnetization and to recommend this practice as

a cost-effective and environment-friendly agro-technique towards food

security and agricultural sustainability.