This review is devoted to a topic of high interest in recent times—the use of plasma technologies in agriculture. The increased attention to these studies is primarily due to the demand for the intensification of food production and, at the same time, the request to reduce the use of pesticides. We analyzed publications, focusing on research conducted in the last 3 years, to identify the main achievements of plasma agrotechnologies and key obstacles to their widespread implementation in practice. We considered the main types of plasma sources used in this area, their advantages and limitations, which determine the areas of application. We also considered the use of plasma-activated liquids and the efficiency of their production by various types of plasma sources.

This study aimed to develop a sustainable industrial chemical engineering technology to improve the interaction between technology, plants, and soil in agriculture. The signaling crosstalk between H₂O₂ and NO and that between H₂O₂ and Ca²⁺ influence plant developmental and physiological processes. Many promising technologies for crop stimulation and protection are based on a thorough study of the environmental impact of various physical factors. A low-temperature, high-frequency plasma was generated via cathode high-frequency glow discharge and used for the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of a low concentration of the strong electrolyte KH₂PO₄, with an electrolysis-activated solution named Plasmolite. The Plasmolite solution yielded a Raman (red) scattering spectrum with a maximum at 1,640 cm⁻¹, which was associated with hydrogen atom vibrations, and other bands at 875, 930, 1,050, and 1,123 cm⁻¹, which were associated with the aqueous electrolyte solution plasma treatment. Based on the goal of producing an optimal H₂O₂ concentration of 100 μM, two types of seeds were exposed to a Plasmolite-based 2 × 10^–5 M KH₂PO₄ solution moisturizing medium for three days. Approximately 92% of the spring spelled seeds (grade “Gremme”) that were exposed to this test solution sprouted, compared with 76% of the seeds exposed to a control solution. The spring rye seeds (grade “Onokhoyskaya”) that were exposed to the test solution sprouted at a rate of 90% compared with 75% in the control. The percentage of seeds that sprouted with a root length of more than 6 mm was approximately 80% for the test solution, compared to 50% for the control. Based on these results, the use of Plasmolite is considered to be promising for the production of activated H₂O₂ for protecting plants and stimulating growth, particularly for enhancing the functions of K and P₂O₅ of fertilizers.

The distilled water was exposed to a cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) generated by the piezotransformer. The treatment was carried out on a six-well plate. Exposure time was from 30 s to 10 min. The emission spectra were obtained. Physical and chemical changes of activated water were observed for 8 days. The reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) were investigated. RONS production dependence on the exposure time and RONS lifetime in the treated liquid was determined using absorbance spectra. Quantitative assessment was made of the nitrite and nitrate concentration change over time after treatment. The medium conductivity and redox potential varied linearly depending on exposure time. The pH value change correlates with nitrate anion concentration. The concentration of peroxide hydrogen increased depending on CAP water treatment duration. The RONS concentration after liquid media processing with piezoelectric direct discharge CAP is a novel result. Biogeosystem Technique provides CAP activated water agriculture synergetic effect.

Backscattering of gyrotron radiation (θ = π) by short-wavelength density fluctuations ( k⊥ = 30 cm−1) in the plasma of the L-2M stellarator was studied under conditions of electron cyclotron...

The application of plasma-activated water (PAW) in agriculture has gained the attention of researchers and practitioners. In particular, treatment with PAW is a promising method for increasing scion and rootstock survival as well as augmenting the mineral nutrition applicable to tree fruit crops. However, the applications of PAW are hampered by the lack of information about the effects of PAW on apple tree condition and yield. The increase in survival rate by PAW is believed to stem from the general stimulation of physiological processes in the plant tissue. To assess the actual effect of the PAW treatments, one needs to consider an important indicator of young tree quality such as their vegetative growth. We conducted field experiments to study the possibility of use of PAW for increase in primary nutrient contents in fruits and leaves in an orchard, as well as to assess the scion survival rate and vegetative growth of young grafts in a nursery. The application of PAW influenced the fruitset, yield, leaf nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), fruit phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) ascorbic acid (AA) and titratable acidity (TA). Treatment with PAW did not significantly reduce the negative impact of the rootstock thickness on the survival rate of bench grafts and their subsequent development. At the same time, scion survival tended to increase in the case when the scions and the rootstocks were of compatible thickness. Further studies of the PAW treatment effects are needed to better understand its applicability in diverse fields of horticulture.