The effect of music on plant growth is still a debatable subject among scientists and experts. Many experiments have been performed by both scientists and students to prove that plants can grow better and faster when they are provided with musical stimulation.

Music actually consists of sound waves that travel through the air at varying frequencies and finally reaching our ear drums to be recognized as sound and music. When the plant is exposed to the same music, it also receives the same sound waves and could in fact be receiving some form of stimuli that we are yet able to understand.

The experiments done by scientists have shown that some plants grew more quickly after being exposed to musical stimulation.

Most scientists will agree that seeds that are exposed to music will actually be able to germinate faster.

There are also those who are of the opinion that plants that are exposed to music may in fact be receiving better care and attention, and therefore grow more quickly. When someone speaks or sings to plants, they may possibly be supplying the plant with additional carbon dioxide that the plants will need to grow faster.

The attached shows that playing classical music to plants makes them grow more quickly.

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/print_project_1301_143

If plant responded to how it was nurtured and have several sensory perceptions, will it then respond to sound waves and vibrations created from musical sounds?

Several studies were conducted to find the effect of music on plant growth and Dr. T. C. Singh carried out one of these earlier research.

In 1962, Dr. T. C. Singh, head of the Botany Department at Annamalia University, India, experimented with the effect of musical sounds on the growth rate of plants and found that balsam plants accelerated by 20% in height and 72% in biomass when exposed to music. He initially experimented with classical music. Later, he experimented with raga music (type of music that improvises on a set of rhythms and notes) played on flute, violin, harmonium and reena, an Indian instrument; and found to have similar effects.

He repeated his experiment with field crops using a particular type of raga played through a gramophone and loudspeakers. The size of crops increased to between 25 to 60% above the regional average.

http://hubpages.com/hub/the-effect-of-music-on-plant-growth

The effect of music on plant growth is still a debatable subject among scientists and experts. Many experiments have been performed by both scientists and students to prove that plants can grow better and faster when they are provided with musical stimulation.

Music actually consists of sound waves that travel through the air at varying frequencies and finally reaching our ear drums to be recognized as sound and music. When the plant is exposed to the same music, it also receives the same sound waves and could in fact be receiving some form of stimuli that we are yet able to understand.

The experiments done by scientists have shown that some plants grew more quickly after being exposed to musical stimulation.

Most scientists will agree that seeds that are exposed to music will actually be able to germinate faster.

There are also those who are of the opinion that plants that are exposed to music may in fact be receiving better care and attention, and therefore grow more quickly. When someone speaks or sings to plants, they may possibly be supplying the plant with additional carbon dioxide that the plants will need to grow faster.

The attached shows that playing classical music to plants makes them grow more quickly.

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/print_project_1301_143

If music creates changes in air vibrations, can experimental changes in air vibrations without the use of music induce plant growth, and if so, why should plants be sensitive to changes in air vibrations from an evolutionary adaptive point of view?

Many experiments have been performed to prove that plants can grow better and faster when they are provided with musical stimulation. Yet it is uncertain whether music really does have an effect on plant growth. Music actually is sound wave with certain amplitude and frequency thus creating pleasing stimuli among humans and probably other living beings. Whether the same sound wave and resultant stimuli cam impact the plant growth, when the plant is exposed to music, is still a debatable subject. However, some experimental studies have reported that some plants grew more quickly after being exposed to musical stimulation. Also another such experiment has shown that seeds that are exposed to music are seen to germinate faster. Further, it's difficult to examine this because there are lot of variables that need to be controlled i.e. soil composition, water, light, etc. As such, there is no scientifically validated convincing evidence on this aspect.

Such an experiment is not so complicated from a logistic point of view. Perhaps it would be nice to have classical music (at least 10 compositions from different composers to increase the external validity of the study), versus a whistle (at least 10 different monotonous whistles at different frequencies), versus silence as control, and spatially mixed. Sound intensity is perhaps also important, so playback could be done at different Decibels  

sound waves affect plants. we can see verse in plants that growth near the airport. we can separate tilacoid via sound vibration. 

surely yes....pls check the website https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mxwiSK_4LVr9X4apl7T5tqflmXo5fEg8UpKPGsvssEY/embed?hl=en&size=s&slide=id.p23

and many others

Music helps plant growth is because of the vibrations that the music gives off to the plants (Music Effects), it does not really matter what genre of music the plants are surrounded by, but rather the amount of beats and the rhythm of the music.

Dear Sundarapandian

 Plants respond to music more than the voice of a person. Of course, the plant will need the appropriate and potting soil in order to have a healthy life, but talking to them and playing music grows faster. The sounds are waves that seem to have a higher frequency when the music is played.

Know what kind of music do the plants grow better is a controversial topic. Some studies say that rock stops growth, while others say the country music growing. Some say that rap is the dying plants. However, in all studies, the instrumental music was allowed more plant growth

There is an experement on the link http://www.miniscience.com/projects/plantmusic/

to test if music has an effect on plant growth or not. The results are given in details. 

This experiment has been performed by another student. We have not verified the results. Do it yourself and let us know what are your results. Is it possible that other hidden factors have affected the outcome of this experiment. Can we get to a firm conclusion by only one experiment?

Another result (reported 5/20/2002)

Dear Mini Science,

I did the project entitled "Do Plants Grow Better to Music", and I got different results! I did Rap, Pop, Rock, and No Music. My Results were Pop1st, Rock 2nd, None 3rd, and Rap was last! Thanx for the help!!! My 5th Grade Science Fair Project was a BIG Hit!!!!!!!!

I have not studied about the effect of music to plants, but one thing is true, when you stop to play music to plants, watch if they are growing, stop to talk to them, you will pay more attention if they have water, light, if the space is enough for them, if it is needed to take the weed from the vase or garden, etc. This will surely make this plant grow too.

In general, I think that, there is an effect of variable-frequency sounds on plant growth, especially, the music. See this URL

 http://musique-pour-soigner-les-plantes.weebly.com/uploads/5/1/5/9/51596/tanshen-study_music_plants_mais_2009.pdf

I have not studied about the effect of music to plants, but I think that, the effect of the sound is depends on type and age of plant (i.e.) the soft plants (as flowers) is more responsive to music than the other Plants and I think that, small Plants more responsive than perennial plants.

Cows and plants like Mozart by Marco Stefanelli:

Studies conducted by the University of Wisconsin in Madison (USA) have shown that milk production in cows who hear symphonic music increases of 7.5%.

A farmer in Illinois (USA) pitched two greenhouses that were in the same conditions of fertility, humidity and temperature, the same seeds; in a greenhouse applied speakers who spread music 24 hours a 24. After a while he realized that it was widespread in the greenhouse where the music was the corn sprouted more quickly, the weight of the corn was higher and that the quotient of soil fertility was increased; the plants closer to the speakers were ruined as a result of sound vibration.

The success was so great that now in Canada are using the music for crops and it was observed that the sound vibrations are able to destroy a particular microorganism parasite that attacks the corn.

Hello all,

There is a project report on the effects of different types of music (classical vs heavy metal) on plant germination and growth, showing that both types of music actually stimulated plants. However, classical music stimulated plant growth more than heavy metal, whereas "louder" music had a positive effect on germination.  :)

http://musique-pour-soigner-les-plantes.weebly.com/uploads/5/1/5/9/51596/tanshen-study_music_plants_mais_2009.pdf

What types of plants have been tested? Is there an interaction between plant phenotype (e.g. thick/large leaves versus tiny/thin leaves as surfaces of music/air vibration perception?) and music type? Perhaps growth is accelerated after leaves reach a critical size/shape? Does soil buffer impact of music, e.g. grains exposed to music placed at different depths under the ground)? Perhaps grains that are deeper in the soil require louder music to stimulate germination?

Could energy vibrations towards plants/grains be transmitted via cables placed under/on the surface of plant soil, independent from presence of loudspeakers?

When tree leaves move in the wind, they produce noise? Could this information be used in plant-plant interactions, and if so why?

If tree branches move because of wind, can noise produced by the leaves be used in tree species recognition, be indicators of tree size, etc...and therefore exploited as signals in plant-plant/tree-tree interactions at population or community level?

Good questions, Dear Marcel, your questions should be transformed to hypotheses and tested by large sample experiments. Do you have answers? Here are a few articles which discuss the type of music:

The effects of sound waves were variable among plant species, seasons and farming conditions. The underlying mechanisms of the effects of sounds waves are to be understood through further studies.

http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/ArticleDetail/3038183

The relative contents of compositions treated by rock music had significant difference when compared with other treatments,and it showed that rock music treatment increased relative contents of oxygenated compounds,sesqui terpenes and aliphatic compounds,but decreased relative contents of monocyclic terpenes and aromatic compounds.

http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-GDNY201211013.htm

One might want to consider this question from another perspective. It is possible that in an experiment, plants which are exposed to music may grow more than plants that are not. Why? Because even though it is unlikely that the plants themselves respond to the music, their caretakers do! Maybe the plants which are exposed to music receive better care than those which do not. Might be worth looking into

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1997-08/867276587.Bt.r.html

French Physicist Creates New Melodies - Plant Songs

http://www.earthpulse.com/src/subcategory.asp?catid=2&subcatid=6

http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/ArticleDetail/3038183

http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-GDNY201211013.htm

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1997-08/867276587.Bt.r.html

http://www.earthpulse.com/src/subcategory.asp?catid=2&subcatid=6

Music reflects different pitch/frequency, pitch/frequency changes, which would imply that different types of music will produce different windows of energy vibration. Perhaps plants are more sensitive to some external energy vibrations (e.g. higher pitch/frequency) than other external energy vibrations (e.g. lower pitch/frequency). Perhaps different plant species have different perceived energy vibration optima for investment in growth/reproduction... ?

I believe it does, although it is at the moment, speculative!

@Behrouz: Sternheimer apparently used proximate/mechanistic approaches (in detail!), not evolutionary-based approaches

The results of many experiments showed that  the plants were growing healthily when they are exposed to music. It may be because plants can respond to sound waves which can stimulate the growing process.

I have read about it several times! I am here to learn from experts...

Sound is known to affect the growth of plants and plants respond to music the same as humans do. Jagdish Chandra Bose made a number of pioneering discoveries in plant physiology. He used his own invention, the Crescograph, to measure plant response to various stimuli, and thereby scientifically proved parallelism between animal and plant tissues. Plants enjoy music, and they respond to the different types of music and its wave-length. Music containing hardcore vibrations could be devastating to plants.

http://www.ehow.com/members/ds_sherry25515.html

Do forests need music?? may be only the natural sounds from air, water and animals

I hope so.

Results

Silence grew the best and healthiest followed by spoken word. Classical music ended up just under spoken word. Bringing up the rear was a very small and unhealthy plant that was 'listening' to heavy metal and world music.

Conclusions

After twenty days of information gathering the conclusion that all music/spoken word affects plant growth negatively. Some plants were affected more negatively than others.'Silence is golden

http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2005/Projects/25074.pdf

Plant growth is reflected in term of increase in number and size of leaves and stem, strengthening of roots and production of blossom. Genes, soil quality, temperature, moisture, water and mineral retention, atmospheric changes, etc are various factors that influence plant growth. Various researches have proved that plants respond to acoustic energy in profound ways that result in their increased growth rate, size and overall health. Sir Jagadis Chandra Bose, an Indian plant physiologist and physicist, spent a lifetime researching and studying the various environmental responses of plants which well-documented in his books 'Response in the Living and Non-Living (1902). According to him plants react to the attitude with which they were nurtured. He also proved that plants, just like human beings, are sensitive to external environment such as light, cold, heat and noise. If plant responded to how it was nurtured and have several sensory perceptions, it then may respond to sound waves and vibrations created from musical sounds.

Music has good effect on persons. And a person's mood has effect on plants. In this sense, music is good for plants.

As for cows, and a few other animals, their hearing makes them potential music lovers.

What puzzles me in the intense sounds I heard in rain forests, and made feel that the music of birds might enhance the forest growth.

Music influences the growth of plants and can either promote or restrict the growth depending on the type of music played. There are certain melodies that help the plants to grow. Experiments on this aspect have shown that music, noise and healing energy has certain effect on plant growth.

http://www.ijesd.org/papers/522-CD0162.pdf

http://hubpages.com/hub/the-effect-of-music-on-plant-growth