Investigation of the Effect of Electromagnetic Field Intensity on Germination, Seedling Emergence, and Morpho-Physiological Traits of Two Species, Poterium sanguisorba and Onobrychis sativa

This study investigated the effect of electromagnetic field intensity on germination, seedling emergence, and vegetative-physiological characteristics of two species of foxberry and spruce in two laboratory and greenhouse environments. Seeds of both species were treated using a Zeeman model ZM-100 device under electromagnetic field intensities of 1, 2, and 3 mT for 1 hour and then cultivated under controlled conditions. Germination parameters including germination percentage, rootlet length, shoot length, seedling length, seedling dry and fresh weight, germination rate, and seed vigor index were measured. Also, physiological characteristics including soluble sugar, proline, and chlorophyll content were evaluated. The results showed that with increasing field intensity compared to the control, germination percentage increased in both species, with the difference that foxberry showed a better response. The length of the root and shoot in the 3 mT treatment increased by 25% and 18%, respectively, compared to the control, and the foxberry variety was superior in root length. The amount of chlorophyll decreased by 15-20% with increasing field intensity, and sugar and proline increased by an average of 22 and 19%. The greenhouse environment showed more positive effects on the dry and fresh weight of the seedling compared to the laboratory. The foxberry variety generally showed a better response than the spruce, which may be related to its more resistant anatomical structure to physiological changes. It is suggested that the electromagnetic field with optimal intensity be used to improve the germination and early growth of native species in sustainable agriculture.