Pengaruh Paparan Medan Elektromagnetik ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) terhadap Perkecambahan dan Aktivitas Antioksidan Kecambah Kacang Hijau (Vigna radiata L.)

Abstract

The utilization of Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields as a physical, non-chemical bio-stimulant represents an innovative green technology in agricultural physics to optimize the vegetative growth and nutritional quality of functional foods. This study aims to analyze the effects of varying ELF magnetic field intensities and exposure on the morphological growth and antioxidant activity of mung bean sprouts (Vigna radiata L.). The laboratory experiment utilized a Randomized Block Design (RBD), involving a control group and treatment groups subjected to variations in magnetic field intensity (100 𝜇T and 300 𝜇T) and exposure duration (30 and 60 minutes. The results indicated that ELF electromagnetic field exposure significantly enhanced the stem length of mung bean sprouts through the Window Effect mechanism. The optimum bio-stimulation was achieved in the E3D30 group (300 μT for 30 minutes), which yielded the highest average stem length of 4.000 ± 0.256 cm. Conversely, extending the exposure to 60 minutes (E3D60) reduced growth efficiency, indicating a physical threshold shift from the eustress to the distress phase. While ELF exposure did not significantly affect the total fresh weight parameter at the 66th hour of harvesting due to stable biomass production under a constant water supply, it consistently up-regulated cellular defense mechanisms. Consequently, the E3D30 group exhibited the highest antioxidant activity at 72.30 ± 0.35% (a 10.70% increase compared to the control) via the radical pair mechanism that triggers low level Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) signaling. In conclusion, pre-sowing exposure to an ELF magnetic field at an optimum dose of 300 μT for 30 minutes significantly accelerates vegetative growth and enhances the functional nutritional value of mung bean sprouts.