Plant music

Speaking to RTE 1’s Pat Kenny on Monday morning Daniel Chamovitz about his book What A Plant Knows, told the story of the scientist who conducted an experiment to find out if plants grew better if he played his favourite music – Meat Loaf in this case - to them. The answer was Yes, but when the experiment was repeated with a heat screen inserted between plant & speakers, the music failed to have any effect.

Lesson: it was the heat wot done it. The music had nothing to do with it.

Well yes; but does some music produce more heat than others? In which case the appropriate control might have been Mozart v Meatloaf.

And is playing music a more efficient way of delivering the requisite heat to a plant, especially when you take into account the synergies from interactions such as improved productivity from the human workers exposed to music while they work?

Are cds better than downloads? How big should the amps be? How loud the volume, for the most efficient promotion of plant growth.

Does some music actually retard plant growth, despite the heat? In which case, let me know & I shall play it to the dandelions in the backyard.

The right answer depends upon exactly what it is you want to know, & how you ask the question. The one who defines the question defines the answer.

Links
What A Plant Knows
Pat Kenny: RTE Radio 1 Monday, 25th June 2012