## 3 Results and Discussion
The seeds were treated with distilled water, a solution of potassium nitrate (0.2%), and a solution of gibberellic acid (0.04%). The following parameters were examined: germination energy, germination, the share of abnormal seedlings, length of roots, and shoots of normal seedlings. Accelerated ageing for three and five days resulted in a statistically significant reduction in germination and germination energy; this adversely affected the length of the roots and shoots, and increased the share of abnormal seedlings. Treating the seeds with all three solutions mitigated the adverse effect of three-day accelerated ageing on germination energy. Moreover, treatment of seeds with gibberellic acid prior to the three-day accelerated ageing procedure had a positive effect on seed germination and neutralised the negative effect of accelerated ageing on the number of abnormal seedlings and the length of shoots and roots of normal seedlings. The cold test (at 5 \({}^{\circ}\)C for seven days) had a negative effect on the germination energy and root length, increased the share of abnormal seedlings, and did not affect seed germination. Treating seeds with distilled water prior to the cold test  
Figure 3: Radish sprout germination dynamics for the control sample and for magnetic field 1 (PMF 1–100 \(\mu\)T and 100 Hz) and magnetic field 2 (PMF 2–100 \(\mu\)T and 200 Hz), mean standard error \(\alpha\) = 0.05.  
completely neutralised the negative influence of low temperatures on germination energy. Eventually, the treatment of the seeds with all three solutions completely neutralised the adverse effect of the cold test on root length. The results obtained for cross sprouts (Figure 5) show a tendency to accelerate the seed germination process by day seven. After this time, the control samples have the same number of germinated seeds with the samples stimulated by the two selected exposure doses of pulsating magnetic fields. Similar results for improved germination capacity are described by the authors using laser stimulation for cross seeds [37; 38; 39; 40]. The use of an increased frequency of magnetic field seems to be irrelevant for the acceleration of the germination processes. This is because the dynamics of germination  
Figure 4: Sunflower sprout germination dynamics for the control sample and for magnetic field 1 (PMF 1–100 uT and 100 Hz) and magnetic field 2 (PMF 2–100 uT and 200 Hz), mean standard error \(\alpha=0.05\). Figure 5: Cress sprout germination dynamics for the control sample and for magnetic field 1 (PMF 1–100 uT and 100 Hz) and magnetic field 2 (PMF 2–100 uT and 200 Hz), mean standard error \(\alpha=0.05\). improvement are maintained for both 100 Hz and 200 Hz. The determining factor here, therefore, is the magnetic field induction of 100 \(\upmu\)T.  
Another parameter examined was the total content of micro and macro components in seed sprouts (Table 2). As a reservoir of valuable bio-nutrients, sprouts are especially valuable due to the content of basic micro and macro components. In recent years, sprouts and micro-herbs have been of great interest in many disciplines [41; 42; 43; 44]. By analysing the results obtained, it is possible to identify the influence of the pulsed magnetic fields on the ionic composition of the cross sprouts. The highest statistically significant increases in the ion content were recorded for calcium with a magnetic field with a frequency of 200 Hz. A similar trend was observed for magnesium and sulphur. On the other hand, the magnetic field with a frequency of 100 Hz was more favourable and more effective in increasing the content of such ions as potassium and phosphorus. However, it should be clearly stated that the magnetic fields applied have a positive effect on the content of macroutrients in particular. Numerous authors have been involved in the comparison of changes in the content of the basic macro- and micro elements during the growth process [45; 46].