415

A publication of

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING TRANSACTIONS

VOL. 50, 2016 The Italian Association
of Chemical Engineering
Online at www.aidic.it/cet
Guest Editors: Katharina Kohse-Höinghaus, Eliseo Ranzi
Copyright © 2016, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.,
ISBN 978-88-95608-41-9; ISSN 2283-9216 DOI: 10.3303/CET1650070

The Effect of Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields on the

Morpho-Anatomical Characteristics of Corn (Zea mays L.)
during Biomass Production
Deivis Suárez Riveroa; Jannet Ortiz Aguilarb, Olga Marín Mahechaa; Pablo Elías
Velásquez Perillab, Paola Andrea Acevedo Pabónb; Angélica María Santis
Navarro*b
a
Fundación Universitaria Agraria de Colombia – UNIAGRARIA
b
Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia – UCC.
[email protected]

There are several sources of raw material that have been identified worldwide with some potential to be used
for the production of biofuels; for this reason hard work has been put into increasing the yields per unit area
and increasing the sugar content (as in the case of corn). There are only a small number of studies that have
analyzed the morpho-anatomical behaviour of crops modified for biomass production. For this reason, this
work studied the morpho-anatomical, developmental and physiochemical changes in Zea mays L. plants when
exposed to magnetic and electromagnetic fields with a view to the large-scale production of biomass for the
generation of biofuels. Seeds were exposed to different fields for 21 days, with a control group of seeds that
3
were not exposed. Sowing was carried out in 100 cm trays using coconut fiber as a substrate. The substrate
had been disinfected and moistened prior to use. The sowing trays were placed in a semi-controlled growth
chamber at a light intensity of 3,000 lux, with light cycles of 12 hours and at a temperature of 23°C. The
variables studied were the growth dynamics of coleoptiles and plants, the complete bromatological analysis
and the anatomical structure. The bromatological analysis included the percentage variation of dry matter,
crude protein, ether extract, ash content, organic matter, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid
detergent fibre (ADF) and calcium, lignin and water activity. The anatomical structure was studied to identify
relevant histological changes and mainly focused on the arrangement of parenchymatous tissue and the
shape of the cells of which it is comprised. In addition, evaluations were conducted regarding the development
of the crop based on the following indicators: relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area index, crop
growth rate, absolute growth rate, leaf area duration and specific leaf area. The best results were obtained on
plants whose seeds were treated with electromagnetic fields. A significant increase was seen in the majority of
the indicators studied. This was most evident in the development of the parenchymal tissue and thus the
chlorophyll content, as was clearly seen in the histological sections. It is important to emphasize that the
histological technique allowed us to identify areas of the greatest concentrations of chlorophyll (shown by
differing shades of green) in plants whose seeds had been subjected to electromagnetic fields. An increase in
the chlorophyll level gives us an indirect measure of the high potential these plants offer for producing
biomass.

1. Introduction
In recent years all countries have increased efforts to search for new energy sources that satisfy the demand
of the people. In fact, the biomass production is important for the production of different products. This will
gradually replace the usual energy supply just like that will reduce the environmental, economic and social
impacts (Rosso et al., 2015). Among this diversification of sources, it’s possible to find the biofuel production
based on forest biomass, energy crops, and agricultural wastes among others. This allows to find a
sustainable and lucrative source of energy (Quijano et al., 2012). Within the energy crops that are considered
efficient for the biomass production is corn. Currently, the corn (Zea mays l.) is not only for the production

Please cite this article as: Suarez Rivero D., Ortiz Aguilar J., Marin Mahecha O., Velásquez Perilla P.E., Acevedo P., Santis Navarro A.M., 2016,
The effect of magnetic and electromagnetic fields on the morpho-anatomical characteristics of corn (zea mays l.) during biomass production,
Chemical Engineering Transactions, 50, 415-420 DOI: 10.3303/CET1650070
416

directed to the food chain, but also as a raw material in the bioethanol production. Additionally, the obtained
fresh biomass can be used as for feeding of animals as a source of fiber and energy.
The search for improved energy crops (not just in terms of increased production and quality) does that they
also increase the technological developments (Dvoretsky et al., 2015), whose aims are to obtain biomass
yields in a quick and efficient way, fast vascular growths and with a few agricultural inputs (fertilisers, water,
etc). Based on the above, this research aims to determine the effect on the morpho-anatomical
characteristics, developmental and physiochemical changes in corn (Zea mays L.) when exposed to magnetic
and electromagnetic fields. Histological techniques and bromatological analysis were used to determine the
potential of plants subjected to stimulus, and get a promising amount of biomass energy as a renewable and
environmental friendly raw material.

2. Materials and methods

2.1 Seeds and plants
The experimental plants come from sprouted corn seeds (Zea mays L.). The seeds were supplied by the local
company Semicol. The corn seeds that have been used in the experiments have a germination percentage
around 92% (ICA–V–508).
2.2 Treatment and hydration of the seeds
The exposure of seeds and plants to the magnetic and electromagnetic fields was permanent for 21 days,
3
using as a witness unexposed seeds. Sowing was carried out in 100 cm trays using the coconut fibre
(previously disinfected and dampened) as a substrate. The sowing trays were placed in a semi-controlled
growth chamber at a light intensity of 3,000 lux, with light cycles of 12 hours and at a temperature of 23°C. A
completely randomized design was used with the factorial arrangement of three replicates per treatment and
50 seeds per replicate. Statistical analysis was carried out using the single analysis of variance and, where
needed, a multiple range test was used. The statistical package Statgraphics Centurion was used for the
analysis
2.3 Watering sprouts and plants
An irrigation system was used. The system allowed an efficient use of the liquid and applications required for
germination, growth and development. This guarantees that the seedlings can obtain the water and nutrients
that they need.
2.4 Measurement of parameters of growth and development
During the germination process, growth and development the following morpho-physiological characteristics
were measured:
a)Germination percentage: Expressed by the ratio between the number of seeds sown and germinated
b)Plant height (cm): The measure from the stem base to the apex of the totally formed leaf. It was taken with
the help of a tape measure (or square)
2
c)Leaf Area (cm ): The silhouette of all leaves was drawn on a bond paper. The silhouettes were cut out and
2
weighed. After, (1) cm of paper used was weighed and the leaf area was determined by the rule of three.
The bromatological analysis were determined according to the standard procedures (Cortés-Castillo et al.,
2010). This analysis includes the percentage variation of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash content,
organic matter, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and calcium, lignin and
water activity. The Chlorophyll content was described by Ortiz et al. (2015). The growth and development
indices were described by Melgarejo (2010). These are showed in the table 1.

3. Results and discussion

3.1 Germination Percentage and Plant Height
The seminal dormancy of embryos was a major consequence of the low number of plants per unit area. It was
observed that a high germination percentage was presented by the EMF treatment (85% of sprouted seeds),
while the seed exposed with the MF and the control showed 70% and 67% respectively. This was an evidence
that the EMF had influence directly on the dormancy reduction and therefore on the embryos stimulation. On
the other hand, although there were little differences, the plants that more grew up during the study resulted to
be those that were exposed by the EMF. The growth average rates were obtained: 24.95 cm for the EMF,
24.87 cm for the control and 23.94 cm for plants with the MF.
3.2 Leaf Area
Leaf area was mainly given by the expansion of the foliar laminae. This did not take into an account the
thickness of mesophyll (space between the epidermis of both faces of the leaves). Figure 1 shows the
behaviour of this variable in two stages. Initially, high values of LA occurred in plants which were exposed to
 417

the EMF. This behaviour had a variation at the end of the study, being the MF those that induced a high LA.
This can be more related to expansion processes of the foliar laminae along with accumulation processes.
3.3 Fresh and Dry Matter
The fresh and dry matter values showed that these were more stimulated when they were applied on a
vegetal material growing with the MF. When determining the ratio between the fresh matter and dry matter, it
was evident that this is more significant for the EMF exposed plants and control plants. In addition, Figure 2
showed that the highest values of dry matter at the end of cycle were occurred in the plants which were
exposed to the EMF

Table 1: Growth Indices used in the physiology of plant and crop, adapted of Santos et al. (2010)
Growth rate Symbol Instantaneous Average value in a time interval Units
value (T2-T1)
Relative Growth Rate RGR 1 ( 2− 1) g/gd
=
( 2 − 1)
Net Assimilation Rate NAR 1 ( 2 − 1) g/cm2d
( 2 − 1)
=
( 2− 1)
( 2 − 1)
Leaf Area Index LAI ( 2 + 1) Dimensionless
= 2 according to the
1
units
Growth rate Symbol Instantaneous
Average value in a time interval Units
value (T2-T1)
Crop Growth Rate CGR 1 1 ( 2 − 1) g/cm2d
= ×
( 2 − 1)
Absolute Growth Rate AGR 2− 1 g/d
=
2− 1
Leaf Area Duration LAD - ( 2 + 1) × ( 2 − 1) cm/d
=
2
Specific Leaf Area SLA 2
+ 1
1 cm2/g
= 2
2
(dw/dt= Derived of the function, LA=leaf area, FA= area of the floor, DL= dry mass foliar, T= time, W= dry
mass).

60

INITIAL FA
50 FINAL FA

40
Leaf Area (cm2)

30

20

10

0
CONTROL MF EMF

Treatment

Figure 1: Expression of leaf area at two evaluation stage

418

INITIAL FM
INITIAL DM
4 FINAL FM
FINAL DM
Fresh matter-FM (g) /
Dry matter-DM (g)

0
CONTROL MF EMF

Treatment
.

Figure 2: Biomass behaviour during the study

3.4 Chlorophyll content and carotenoids
When analysing the figure 3, one can see that the plants treated with the EFM had a high content of
chlorophyll and carotenoids. This may be related with a high efficiency of pigments synthesis processes.
When there is a high content of active pigments, it establishes a direct relation with the development of the
photosynthesis. This allows the formation of macromolecules such as the polysaccharides and the
strengthening of cellular structures.

18

Chlorophyll a
16
Total Chlorrophyll / Carotenoids (µg/ml)

Chlorophyll b
Total Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll a / Chlorophyll b /

14 Carotenoids

12

10

0
CONTROL MF EMF

Treatment

Figure 3: Content of photosynthetic pigments and carotenoids

3.5 Analysis of growth and development indices
The table 2 presents a quantitative approximation based on indicators that allow both the description and
interpretation of the behaviour of plants that grew under controlled environment. These measures showed a
significant difference between different treatments. The electromagnetic fields have had the highest values. It
 419

should be noted that the NAR was the variable with the highest difference with regard to the control and the
magnetic field. The maximum values of NAR were translated in a higher photosynthetic efficiency and
therefore a high biomass accumulation

Table 2: Physiological indices

Growth rate Units Control Magnetic Field Electromagnetic Field
RGR g/gd 0.030 0.032 0.088
NAR g/cm2d 0.420 0.179 2.047
LAI Dimensionless 147.26 196.96 199.90
according to the units
CGR g/cm2d 0.0021 0.0026 0.0062
AGR g/d 0.013 0.016 0.039
LAD cm/d 164.93 220.60 223.88
SLA cm2/g 51.25 59.53 73.15

3.6 Preliminary chemical composition

The dry matter content values were reported 90% in control plants, 88.52% in the EMF and 86.95% in the MF.
Everything seems to indicate that this variable is closely related to the genetic expression of the species under
study or with the growth phase of the crop. Figure 4 allowed evidence the contents of the cellular wall, mainly
in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. It seems that the treated plants with MF and EMF were deposited with
low lignin contents of the cellular wall structure, which is reflected in the presence of high value of FDA
(cellulose + lignin) in control plants. Similar result was obtained for the analysis FDN as its FDA fraction
contains more hemicellulose.

70

60 Crude fibre
NDF
ADF
Crude fibre/ NDF / ADF (%)

50

40

30

20

10

0
CONTROL MF EMF

Treatment

Figure 4: Crude fibre content (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and acid detergent fibre (FDA)

When making the analysis of the aqueous activity (Aw) in the figure 5 it is certain that the values are similar for
different treatments and the control (0.95 for the CEM, 0.93 in CM and 0.92 for plant them Control). The rest of
variables showed in the same figure also show similar behaviours, standing out the content of protein that
tends to be high in the plants treated with the CEM and that can increase the nutritional value of the produced
biomass.
420

8
Nitrogen
Crude Protein
Ether Extract
Ether Extract / Water Activity (%)

Water Activity
6
Nitrogen / Crude Protein /

0
CONTROL MF EMF

Treatment

Figure 5. Composition in additional nutritional elements in the material under study

4. Conclusions
During the experiment has been found that plants exposed to EMF produced more biomass quantity together
with high quality. All this was based on the bromatological analysis, especially for by the low obtained contents
of NDF and ADF. The NDF and ADF contain lignin and this is associated with the quality of the biomass used
mainly for animal feeding.
High contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids were obtained in plants exposed to the EMF. Chlorophylls are
responsible for the synthesis processes. And this, it seems to be related to the increased production of
biomass and protein synthesis obtained in the bromatological analysis.
From the performed analysis it is possible to observe the benefits (especially in the biomass production) that a
large scale application of the EMF during the growth and development of corn offers.

Reference
Cortés-Castillo C., Quiñones-Méndez L., Hernández C., 2010 Caracterización fitoquímica y bromatológica de
Dichapetalum spruceanum vell.affinis planta silvestre de la Orinoquia Colombiana y sus potencialidades
de uso. Orinoquia, 14(1), 49-57
Dvoretsky D., Dvoretsky S., Peshkova E., Temnov M., 2015, Optimization of the Process of Cultivation of
Microalgae Chlorella Vulgaris Biomass with High lipid content for Biofuel Production . Chemical
Engineering Transactions, 43, 361-366 DOI:10.3303/CET1543061
Melgarejo, L., 2010, Experimentos en fisiología vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. ISBN:
9789587196689
Ortiz J., Suarez D., Puentes A., Velasquez P., Santis Navarro A., 2015, Comparison of the effects in the
germination and growth of corn seeds (zea mays l.) by exposure to magnetic, electrical and
electromagnetic fields. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 43, 169-174 DOI:
10.3303/CET1543029Bradshaw A.M., Ertl G., Eds., 1989, Physics and Chemistry of Alkali Metal
Adsorption. Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Quijano R., Botero S., Domínguez J., 2012, MODERGIS application: Integrated simulation platform to promote
and develop renewable sustainable energy plans, Colombian case study. Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews, 16, 5176–5187.
Rosso Ceron A.M., Weingartner S., Kafarov V., 2015, Generation of Electricity by Plant Biomass in Villages of
the Colombian Provinces Chocó, Meta and Putumayo. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 43, 577-582
DOI:10.3303/CET1543097
Santos Castellanos, M., Ñústez López, C. E, Segura Abril, M., 2010, Análisis de Crecimiento y Relación
Fuente-Demanda de Cuatro Variedades de Papa (Solanum tuberosum L.) en el Municipio de Zipaquirá
(Cundinamarca, Colombia). Revista Facultad Nacional de Agronomía - Medellín, 63, 5253-5266.