A b s t r a c t. Effect of static magnetic field on germination of mung beans is described. Seeds of mung beans, were exposed in batches to static magnetic fields of 87 to 226 mT intensity for 100 min. Magnetic time constant -60.743 Th (Tesla hour) was determined experimentally. High value of magnetic time constant signifies lower effect of magnetic field on germination rate as this germination was carried out at off-season (13°C). Using decay function, germination magnetic constant was calculated. There was a linear increase in germination magnetic constant with increasing intensity of magnetic field. Calculated values of mean germination time, mean germination rate, germination rate coefficient, germination magnetic constant, transition time, water uptake, indicate that the impact of applied static magnetic field improves the germination of mung beans seeds even in off-season.K e y w o r d s: decay function, magnetic-time model, MalthusVerhulst functions, mung beans seeds INTRODUCTIONGermination of seeds depends on many factors like temperature, water potential, light, soil, electric field, magnetic field and electromagnetic radiation, etc. In the present study mung beans are used to find the effect of magnetic field on sprouting and germination in off-season. Mung bean (Vigna radiata) which is also commonly referred to as green bean, munggo or monggo, green gram, golden gram, green soy, mung, moong, or mash bean. Mung bean is a pulse crop widely grown in the Indian subcontinent as a short-duration catch crop between two principal crops (wheat and rice). Mung bean contains carbohydrates, proteins and has a low content of fat and fibre. It is a low input, short duration, high-value crop containing easily digestible protein. Mung bean fixes nitrogen in the soil and helps to maintain soil fertility. In Punjab (India), farmers often use two mung beans varieties -SML 832 and SML 668. Punjab Agricultural University in India released SML 832, used in the present investigation, as a new high yielding, MYMV resistant (Mung bean Yellow Mosaic Virus) spring/summer mung bean variety. To increase Mung production farmers, use chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides. Reckless application of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides pollutes the soil. Researchers are trying to find other techniques which must be proficient, clean and affordable, and free from insecticides and pesticides. One of those techniques is treating the seeds with magnetic field before sowing. With this method, the use of synthetic inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, etc. can be avoided, and the crop production and its quality can also be increased. The effect of magnetic field (MF) on plants has been studied by various researchers (Mahajan and Pandey, 2011;Marks et al., 2010;Matwijczuk et al., 2012;Ratushnyak et al., 2008;Rochalska et al., 2007) for increasing germination rate, enhancing seedling vigour, improving germination time, and growth at later development stages of plant. Many researchers worked on different type of seeds...

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seeds were exposed to electric field from zero to 1300 V for 15 min at three different temperatures (13, 16 and 19°C). It was found that the exposure of chickpea seeds to the electric field caused a change in water uptake capacity (and its coefficient) as compared to control. A new theoretical model for water uptake was developed and verified experimentally. Experiments were performed at three different temperatures. It was observed that temperature nullifies the effect of the electric field on seeds.

The chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seeds were exposed to the electric field at 270, 470, 670, 870 and 1070 V/cm for 15 min duration at a constant temperature (13°C). The effect of electric treatment on germination, seedling growth and water uptake was investigated. Electrically treated seeds have shown a delay in water absorption as compared to the control (unexposed); hence, there was an increase in mean germination time and transition time. Maximum delay was observed at 470 V/cm with 15 min exposure. Rate of water uptake was calculated experimentally. It increased at all field values. A new water uptake model was used to find water content absorbed by the seed at any instant as a function of the electric field at a constant temperature (13°C). Among the various treatments, 470 V/cm for 15 min yielded the peak performance (for root and shoot lengths).

Triticum and Rice, the two cereals are the staple food of Indians. Before green revolution, India was facing their shortage. Now India is self-sufficient. Still, there is a talk of second green revolution. In this context, it is need to boost the production of these crops to ensure sustainability. The present study is a small step in this direction. It aims at finding out the effect of cow dung/soil mixture on germination of triticum spp. (triticum) seeds. The germination of triticum seeds were studied in the soil which was mixed with cow dung in different proportions in volume wise as 1: