Self:heating seed bed for fast germination and plant growth - uses soil as electrolyte and externally short-circuits buried electrodes

摘要

The electrodes are connected by a short-circuiting switch outside the bed. A safe voltage must be below 1.0 volt and the iron/copper couple has an effective output of 0.6 V. An electrically-heated seed bed used for intensive cultivation in a greenhouse etc. The bed is used as a battery to provide its own heat, using the soil as electrolyte in which iron and copper electrodes (Fe and Cu) are buried. In a seed bed of one sq.m. with a capacity 250 l soil, germination is 5 or 6 times faster than in normal beds and 3 times faster than conventionally heated beds. Phosphoric acid fertiliser reduces oxide forming on the iron electrode.