GB1492438A - Method for performing a germinating process with or without promoting plant growth subsequent to the germinating process - Google Patents

Abstract

1492438 Malting F KœHTREIBER 16 Oct 1975 [16 Oct 1974] 42418/75 Heading C6E [Also in Division Al ] A method of performing a germinating process or of performing a germinating process and promoting plant growth involves maintaining a germinating material in a submerged condition in temperature-controlled water enriched with dissolved oxygen and continuously causing oxygenous gas to flow upwardly in finely divided form through the germinating material during the germinating process or during the germinating process and plant growth (where applicable). The germination of barley or wheat in malting and the production from germinating material of a green vegetable mass under the incidence of light, respectively, are mentioned. In the latter case the vegetable parts formed from the plumule or acrospire may be allowed to propagate submerged in the water or in the atmosphere, as required. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 depicts the germination of barley 2 in water 3 within a tank 1. The grain is supported upon a tiltable perforated floor 6, below which there is a manifold 7 for the supply of oxygenous gas and a drain 8. Figs. 2 and 3 relate to the production of green vegetable mass from germinating seedlings. According to the Fig. 2 embodiment the water is pumped through a circuit for regeneration comprising the following diagrammatically depicted stages: filtration 14, oxygenation 13, sterilization 15 (ozone or ultrasonic vibrations), addition of nutrient solutions and/or bactericides 16, temperature conditioning 17 and quality testing 18. In the apparatus of Fig. 3, the water overflows from the germination chamber 20 into an annulus 19. Alternatively, the annulus may be used for the germination, the overflow being discharged into chamber 20. The walls of the apparatus are preferably translucent.