A Comprehensive Literature Review on Acoustic Stimulation for Enhanced Hydroponic Plant Growth: Investigating the Potential of Acoustic Monotone Generators

Abstract

Global food insecurity and the rapidly growing population necessitate the urgent exploration of innovative, sustainable agricultural technologies. Hydroponic systems over the years have shown their potential as a compelling solution, enhancing yields, reducing water consumption, and optimizing growing conditions. Setting the foundation from a plant’s inherent ability to perceive sound, this literature review delves into the potential of acoustic stimulation as a non-invasive growth stimulus within a controlled hydroponic setting. Based on a comprehensive body of research, including studies detailing specific frequency-specific responses from plants, this review synthesizes evidence demonstrating that specific sound waves can significantly influence various physiological processes, leading to improved growth, increased biomass, and increased stress tolerance across a wide range of plant species. While existing literature provides proof of the positive effects of acoustic stimulation, a critical gap emerges in the development of widespread adoption of specialized acoustic monotone generators. Previous experiments predominantly focus on observing plant responses to various frequencies and intensities, often without considering the practical implementation of the delivery and generation of sound waves. This review highlights that plant responses are highly frequency-specific, meaning that wide-range sound or arbitrary music is less effective compared to a single-frequency(monotone) stimulus tailored to a plant’s optimal acoustic sensitivity. The lack of a dedicated, commercially viable, and sustainable design of an acoustic monotone generator shows a significant bottleneck in translating a promising laboratory finding into a scalable agricultural solution. This study highlights the urgent need for multidisciplinary research and development focused on the engineering and application of precise acoustic technology to maximize the full potential of sound as a sustainable, efficient, and effective growth stimulant for hydroponic cultivation.