Music to Grow Plants (1970) presented by Dr. George Milstein

Sound Energy and Plants

A series of professional academic research reports describe the successful use of audio energy to stimulate significant improvements in plant growth.  The National Science Foundation, under contract with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, has already supported such research.  Investigators at the New York Botanical Gardens, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Ottawa have also been involved in carefully studying this create use of sound waves.

Stimulation of plant growth is not a new concept.  Other methods already used to stimulate plants have been ultraviolet light,  thermal and mechanical devices, hormones, and synthetic fertilizers.  Some of these techniques, particularly chemicals and synthetic substances have been considered by some ecologists as pollutants of the environment and even worse, of the plant itself.  Sound energy has the unique potential of reducing pollutant effects which have already resulted in an ecological imbalance of our world.

Sound energy can affect specific parts of plants: leaves, bark, fruit, stems, seeds, flowers, and roots.  These various plant structures can be stimulated toward faster growth by sound vibrations.  Numbers of studies have yielded dramatic growth effects.  One study using corn plants obtained the following results.

Faster seedling emergence, more rapid plant growth, greater uniformity of plants, earlier silking of the corn, a more robust strain of corn at harvest.

One theoretical explanation holds that plant growth is partly a function of the exchange rate between the environment and the plant.  This exchange takes place in certain plant cells called stomatas.  Stomatas must open in order for the exchange to occur.  Sound stimulation can trigger these cells remaining open for longer (than normal) periods of time and increased the exchange rate.  It is hypothesized that this effect has resulted in the increased rate of plant growth.

Further research is still necessary to determine whether the stimulation or irritation increased plant growth.  Specific sound stimulation and/or irritation may yield a maximal growth effect.  Although present data are impressive future study of various plants with a specific variety of sound may further enhance the dramatic effects noted above.

As a result of present study, we were able to produce a sound which acts upon plant growth patterns. These sounds have been electronically embedded in this record. Every effort has been made to camouflage them, however, you may at times hear certain high frequency tones that could not be hidden completely. [sic] For best results this record should be played daily. The music which has been systematically selected and prepared is also most enjoyable for listening. Your plants and hopefully you will be brightened by the sound of this album. (PATENT PENDING)