Seed treatment and crop production

The use of non-thermal plasmas for the treatment of seeds and in the cultivation of crops opens up new possibilities for the production and processing of agricultural products. On the one hand, their disinfecting effect can be used to replace agrochemicals. On the other hand, metabolic processes can be stimulated that allow better adaptation or resilience to very different weather conditions, which are becoming increasingly important, especially in connection with changing climatic conditions. Together, these potentials contribute to securing and possibly increasing yields in crop cultivation. The aim of the research focus is to investigate the fundamentals of the relevant processes and their implementation in technical solutions for the user. The focus is on the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species formed with air or water in plasma. A distinction is made between direct treatment methods, in which the plasma has a direct effect, and indirect methods, in which air or water treated with plasma is used. For direct treatment, plasma has already been established as a possible substitute for chemical seed treatment as part of the BMBF-funded WIR! project "Physics for Food". The use of plasma-treated air, on the other hand, is particularly suitable for reducing losses during storage, e.g. due to molds or insects. Various objectives can be pursued with plasma-treated water. This also includes the destruction of harmful microorganisms. In addition, the nitrogen compounds enriched in the water can also be used specifically for fertilization, thus avoiding the use of mineral fertilizers. Particularly promising is the manipulation of metabolic processes, which has so far been reflected in stronger root growth and indicates better adaptation to stress.