Hydration of seeds with partially hydrated super absorbent polymer

Abstract

The germination of seeds is improved by treating the seeds with a solid-form super absorbent polymer that has absorbed water. Super absorbent polymer particles that contain an amount of water such as about 5 to 7 times their weight that is significantly less than the amount of water they are able to absorb such as about 80-120 times their weight and do not substantially adhere to each other are mixed with seeds to form a mixture that may contain a volume ratio of seeds to polymer particles of 0.2 to 5:1. The mixture is stirred while supplying air or gaseous oxygen into the mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficient to cause the seeds to imbibe sufficient water to enhance their vigor for sprouting, but insufficient to cause sprouting. The mixture is sieved to obtain seeds having essentially no adhering polymer residue of the particles, after which the seeds may be dried. The polymer particles may be spherical, and before absorbing water have a size of 50 to 300 .mu.m. A fine powder of hydrophobic material such as silica, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate or barium stearate may be coated on the polymer particles before or after absorbing water in an amount of 0.1 to 5 weight percent to further prevent adhesion between the particles.