Journal of the Society for Psychical Research
Vol 58, No 827, April 1992
Titel: FOLLOW-UP STUDIES OF PK EFFECTS ON PLANT GROWTH
by Alok Saklani
Studie av PK-inducerad växt hos plantor PK-experiment
Subjects who had successfully demonstrated PK abilities in previous studies were given further tests.
Alias: studie av pk-inducerad växt hos plantor
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ABSTRACT
Subjects who had successfully demonstrated PK abilities in previous studies were given further tests. When subjects failed to repeat their performances, barley, which is linked to local beliefs and customs, was selected as the test material instead of the wheat grains used so far. All five subjects tested for PK succeeded in influencing the growth of plants and one of them who was given a second test replicated results.
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INTRODUCTION
Plants and plant seeds have been widely employed as test material in experiments carried out to study PK effects over the past few years. Some of these studies have produced results suggesting a significant PK influence by subjects in experimental conditions (Grad, 1965; MCDonald et al, 1976; Vasse & Vasse, 1948, etc), while a few others have reported either mixed or no significant effects at all (Lenington, 1979; Munson, 1979; Pauli, 1973, etc). The author had observed during experiments with a shaman (Saklani, 1987; 1988) that the subject could successfully demonstrate both plant healing and plant PK abilities (using wheat seeds). Another two shamans also influenced the growth of plants in later experiments (Saklani, 1989); however, none of them could repeat his performance.
In the present series <1> the author decided to give tests to a few more shamans not tested before, in order to ascertain whether they could demonstrate PK in experimental conditions and also replicate the same. When they failed even in their very first attempts, a third subject, who had succeded once (but not on the second occasion) in influencing plant growth, was given another chance. On finding non-significant differences once again, it was decided to change the test material, using barley instead of wheat in further experiments. Since barley is linked with local beliefs and customs <2>, it was felt that it could provide an additional stimulus to the subjects. Three subjects demonstrated PK abilities in the nest two experiments. In the light of this, two more experiments were conducted in order to ascertain whether (1) a subject could repeat his performance a second time, and (2) non-shaman subjects could (also) influence the growth of plants in similar conditions.
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Experiment 1
1200 healthy-looking wheat seeds were selected from a packet procured from the state seed outlet, divided into four equal parts, packed in (identical) polythene bags and sealed (folded and stapled three times) by the experimenter (AS). (Since treatment by the subjects was to be carried out in presence of the co-experimenter, no other method of sealing the bags was thought to be necessary.) Meanwhile, the co-experimenter (US) collected 50 kg of garden soil and passed it through a 1 mm mesh. The soil was later mixed with 5 kg of sand (to prevent caking of the mud). 2 kg of the soil mixture, weighed with the aid of a physical balance, was packed into a pot. And in the same manner all the 24 pots (which were identical) were prepared and later numbered (1-24). US also filled four (identical) plastic containers (cans) with ordinary tap water (800 ml in each) and sealed the same. Each can had a total capacity of 1000 ml, but in order to prevent leakage of water while the cans were being taken to the subjects they were only partially filled. (Considering that treated water enhanced the PK effect (Saklani, 1988), it was decided to get both the seeds and the water to be used at the time of sowing treated by the subjects.) By drawing lots the seed bags were selected as experimental and control groups for the two shamans (Di and R) to be studied in the experiment, and coded. The same procedure was followed with the water cans, such that a seed bag and a water can selected as the experimental group for a shaman had a similar code. The two bags as well as the water cans (constituting the control and experimental groups) intended for the Di test were taken to her. (It should be mentioned here that the shaman-subjects perform in their place of residence and therefore the test material was taken to their respective houses.) While the control group was retained by US, the experimental-group seed bag and water handed over to the subject for (psychic) treatment. The subject was instructed to make the experimental group grow longer than the control and not to puncture or open the bag or the can. For the purpose of treatment, the subject held the bag and can in her hands for about 60 seconds and chanted verses from the scriptures. Immediatly after this she handed back the seed bag and water can to US, who sat next to her throughout the period to ensure that the test material remained in his full view during the treatment and was not tampered with. It should be noted here that while healers in other experiments, eg Scofield and Hodges (1991), Grad (1965), etc, laid both their hands above the seeds/saline, and that too for as long as 2-15 minutes, the subjects in the present study held tha can and bag by their necks, one in each hand, for a much shorter period. Further, the subject was highly motivated (with a desire to prove the deity's power) and both confident and relaxed.
The bags and the cans were later taken to the laboratory and placed together for over a day to eliminate temperature differences (due to handling), if any. The same procedure was followed for the bags and cans meant for R. Subsequently, the contents of each bag were poured into a fresh one by AS and by drawing lots again recoded. (The bag used for repacking seeds were also identical.) For the cans the labels stuck on them were taken off and new ones pasted on. (Once the labels are taken off it is not possible to tell one can from another). All this was done while US was not present in the room. AS noted the information, sealed it in an envelope and locked it up. The recoded bags and cans were given for sowing to US, who assigned 6 pots to each group by drawing lots, noted the information, sealed it in an envelope and locked it up. Thus both the experimenters were blind to the pots with treated/untreated seeds. After the seed had been sown (each seed with its sprouting end pointing upwards), the pots were serially arranged (1, 2, 3, ... 24) on a table in an isolated room with ambient conditions of temperature and light. Light intensity, measured on the first day with aid of a Luxmeter at the rim level of each pot, was found to be uniform (1029 +- 1.35 at 10.00 am). 100 ml of water taken from the cans (using a measuring cylinder) was gently poured into each pot on the first day. (Since both the seed bags and the water cans carried the same code, the experimental group received the treated water and seeds while the control received the untreated.) But on later days only 20 ml of ordinary tap water was given to each pot. Germination commenced on the third day, when red-coloured (rubber) bands were placed around each sprouted seed and black ones around the others. For the purpose of the experiment only the plants with red bands were considered. Readings were taken on days 8 and 15 by US. In order to measure plant heights one end of a (millimetre) scale was rested at the point where a plant emerged while the tip of the plant marked the reading. The experiment was terminated after the second readings had been taken.
Even though neither of the subjects has ever visited the laboratory, in order to ensure that they did not enter the same at any time and tamper with the material, the doors were kept locked throughout and only US had the keys to it.
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RESULTS
The group treated by Di did not differ from the control in mean height on either day 8 (p<0.2 by method 1, where each plant acted as a replicate, as well as by method 2, where the mean of each pot acted as a replicate) or day 15 (p<0.9 by method 1 as well as by method 2). Germination per pot also did not differ in the two groups (p<0.4) (Table 1).
The group treated by R again did not differ from the control in mean height on either day 8 (p<0.6 by method 1 and p<0.5 by method 2) or day 15 (p<0.9 by method 1 as well as method 2). Germination per pot also was not found to be different int the two groups (p<0.3) (Table 1).
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<1> Some of the results described here were presented at the 34th Annual Convention of the Parapsychological Association, held at Heidelberg, Germany, from Agust 8th-11th, 1991, in the form of a poster.
<2> The time for many Hindus to worship the goddess Durga is during Navratra-days (a period of about two weeks in Sept/Oct) every year. On this occasion, barley, which is considered auspicious among the people, is also sown in pots. A good growth is taken to be a sign of the grace of Durga. Many Garhwali mediums (including Bakias) make an attempt to sprout barley in their palms (within the space of a few minutes) as well, during the Navratra. People believe that if a medium's devotion is true barley will surely sprout in his or her palm.