The effect of Buddhist pirith chanting and Western pop music on growth performance of “Pranajeewa”, Codariocalyx motorius (Houtt.) H. Ohashi

Abstract

Response of Codariocalyx motorius to Western pop music and Pirith chanting was examined by conducting an experiment with three months old C. motorius saplings, kept in a sound proof confined chamber. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used with five replicates. One week after planting, plants were exposed to three treatments; Western pop music, Pirith and silence. Music and Pirith were played separately for an hour, 30 cm distance away from plants with a sound level of 58-63 dB for two months continuously, maintaining equal environmental conditions. Measurements on growth performance were taken once in a fortnight. Percentage difference of parameters was calculated and data were analysed using ANOVA. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between the treatment of Pirith and Western pop music were observed for plant height, leaf width, leaf area, and chlorophyll content and leaflet length. However,thin layer chromatographic profiles observed under UV light and Anisaldehyde spray reagent exhibited no difference in chemical components. Magnitudes of the percentage difference between measured parameters of C. motorius under Pirith chanting and Western pop music indicated that there was discernible effect of Pirith chanting on the measured plant parameters in the study implying that rhythmic chanting of Pirith is the most appropriate type of music which improved the growth performance of C. motorius.