Magnetic field treatments improve germination and seedling growth in Festuca arundinacea Schreb. and Lolium perenne L.

The aim of this paper was to study the effect of the exposure of grass seeds (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. and Lolium perenne L.) to stationary magnetic fields on the initial stages of germination. Root growth as a parameter of the onset of germination, and the length of seedlings were determined during the first days of development. By means of the rate of germination the magnetic doses promoting germination significantly were selected. A further growth test was performed by applying the optimum doses. When seeds were exposed to magnetic fields, the mean germination time was significantly reduced by more than 10% related to controls; the time required to the onset of the germination was also reduced. The roots of treated grass seedlings were significantly longer than those of untreated ones when seeds were permanently exposed.