| abstract |
The invention is concerned with a method of processing seeds or cereal to accelerate natural germination in which a bed of seeds or cereal are steeped in water which is oxygenated by circulation therethrough of a stream of oxygenated air, the temperature of the bed is controlled during steeping by cooling the circulating oxygenated air, the body of water is drained from the bed, oxygenated air is passed through the bed to dry the seeds or cereal, and the temperature of the bed is controlled during the drying step whereby the bed of seeds or cereal is pregerminated. n Advantages of the invention are that the seeds or cereal are in a condition ready for immediate germination when required but may be stored for a indefinite period of time. Also when the seeds or cereal are or is planted they can grow immediately since they have the correct moisture uptake, and further the germination and original growth phases are uniformly and actively promoted by the oxygenated reaction. |