GB983920A - Improvements in or relating to the coating of seeds - Google Patents

Abstract

To facilitate uniform sowing of seeds and their germination in an environment, e.g. wet soil, deficient in atmospheric oxygen, the seeds, such as monogerm beetroot and sugar-beet seeds, are coated, e.g. at 4 DEG C., with a coating comprising one or more hydrophobic metal compounds and one or more autoxidisable compounds, which coating is rendered temporarily and/or locally alkaline, either before, during or after application to the seeds, by the application of one or more alkaline compounds, in the presence of oxygen or one or more oxidising agents, to effect autoxidation of the autoxidisable compound or compounds. Specified hydrophobic metal compounds are: ferric oxide, zinc oxide, red lead oxide Pb3O4, lead dioxide, chromium oxide Cr2O3, calcium stearate or palmitate and magnesium stearate or palmitate. Specified autoxidisable compounds are: pyrocatechol, resorcinol, pyrogallol and tannin. Specified alkaline compounds, which may function as binders and fertilizers are: lime, potash, water-glass and ground basic slag. Specified oxidising agents are: air, hydrogen peroxide and inorganic per acids or salts, such as sodium perborate and pernitrous acid. The seeds may be coated in the presence of an aqueous solution of a non-electrolyte such as sugar, which solution may contain a wetting agent such as soap and a dye such as eosin. After autoxidation has been effected, the pH of the coating may be reduced to a value between 6.5 and 8.0, as by adding an acid or acidic substance such as peat. An agent which promotes germination such as an inorganic nitrate (including ammonium nitrate) and a bacterial concentrate such as Bacterium herbicola may be included in the coating.