# Soybean Germination Response to Algae Extract and a Static Magnetic Field Treatment
## 3 Results
### Germination Tests
The germination percentage for all extract concentrations was higher than in the control group. Statistically significant differences were observed between the control group and extract concentrations--20% and 80%--for E 20% it was higher by 26.5% and for E 80% by 29.4% than in the control. Generally, _C. glomerata_ extract positively influenced soybean length-hypocotyl and epicotyl length, as well as root length. Hypocotyl length for all extract concentrations (besides 40%) was higher than in the control group. For this parameter, the best results were obtained for E 20% and E 40% (6.6% higher than in C) and for E 80% (9.4% higher than in C), a statistically significant difference). Epicotyl length greater than in the control group was observed for E 20% (by 19.2%), E 60% (by 7.7%), and E 80% (by 15.4%). _Cladophora glomerata_ extract also stimulated root growth, besides E 80%, when compared with the control group. The longest roots were measured in the E 60% group--longer by 13.1% than C. No significant effect of the extract on the dry weight of plants was observed. Slightly higher dry biomass than in C was found for E 20% and E 100%. All tested concentrations of algae extract increased the chlorophyll content (SPAD measurements) in soybean seedlings when compared to the control group. The highest increase in SPAD value was observed for E 20% (higher by 9.2% than in C) and E 80% (higher by 10.7% than in C). The same concentrations turned out to be the most beneficial in the case of spectrophotometric measurements--for E 20%, the total chlorophyll increased by 7.2% compared to C and for E 80% by 27.0%. The content of carotenoids in soybean seedlings was lower for all groups than in the control group. Comparing the effects of all concentrations of the algae extract on soybean growth and characteristics, two concentrations can be recommended for further research--20 and 80%. However, taking into account the similar values of the soybean parameters for these two concentrations, in further research, 20% extract was used (due to consumption of lower amounts of biomass for extraction, shorter extraction time, etc.). Table 3b presents the effect of soybean seeds treatment before sowing with the static magnetic field on the plant growth and the pigments content. SMF applied for two different times (3 and 12 min) and doses (250 and 500 mT) did not increase the germination percentage of seeds when compared to the control group. Taking into account the plant length, the stimulatory effects of SMF were observed for the shorter exposure time--3 min. For this time, and for both inductions (250 and 500 mT) root, hypocotyl, and epicotyl lengths were greater than in the control group. For the 3 min and 250 mT group, root length was 18.8% greater than in the control group. For all experimental groups with SMF, the dry soybean biomass was slightly higher than in the control group (max. by 5.4% for 12 min 500 mT). SMF had a positive effect on the pigment contents (chlorophyll and carotenoids) in soybean. Chlorophyll content measured with SPAD was highest for 3 min 500 mT and 12 min 250 mT, greater by 41.9% and 43.5%, respectively, than in the control group. Total chlorophyll was the highest for 3 min 250 mT (83.6% higher than for C). In the case of carotenoids, the highest content was measured for the 3 min 250 mT group and was almost 5 times higher than in the control group. All seedlings pre-treated with SMF had extensive lateral roots. Most of the seedlings in the 12 min 250 mT group had blue discoloration (gray).