Crop loss estimation allows a user to monitor and estimate damage to the crops due to various natural events/factors. State of the art systems used for the crop loss estimation have the disadvantage that they do not convey to the users extent of damage. In addition to this, the existing methods do not take into account the recovery factor of the crops due to multiple factors and end up in overestimating the loss. The disclosure herein generally relates to crop monitoring, and, more particularly, to a method and system for crop loss estimation. In this method, crop loss is assessed based on real-time weather parameters and remote sensing data collected and processed, and crops are classified as being in one of a repairable damage class and a permanent damage class. The system also quantifies the crop loss, which allows the user to understand magnitude of the crop loss.

Provided is a compound and composition capable of increasing a sugar content in a fruit by a simple method, without being restricted by a cultivation area of a plant or a climatic environment. The agent for increasing a sugar content in a fruit of a plant comprises a compound represented by the formula MX as an active ingredient, wherein M represents alkali metal ion or alkaline earth metal ion, and X represents carbonate ion, hydrogen carbonate ion, acetate ion, citrate ion, succinate ion, phosphate ion, hydrogen phosphate ion, or pyrophosphate ion.

Provided is a compound and composition capable of increasing a sugar content in a fruit by a simple method, without being restricted by a cultivation area of a plant or a climatic environment. The agent for increasing a sugar content in a fruit of a plant comprises a compound represented by the formula MX as an active ingredient, wherein M represents alkali metal ion or alkaline earth metal ion, and X represents carbonate ion, hydrogen carbonate ion, acetate ion, citrate ion, succinate ion, phosphate ion, hydrogen phosphate ion, or pyrophosphate ion.

A method for hydroponic cultivation of crops by using mycorrhizal fungi and their partner bacteria includes growing a partner plant between rows of the crops, and inoculating a mycorrhizal fungal strain and a partner bacterial strain to infect the partner plant or the crop with the mycorrhizal fungal strain, wherein the partner bacterial strain is compatible and coexists with the mycorrhizal fungal strain, and the partner plant facilitates growth of the mycorrhizal fungal strain and the partner bacterial strain.

A method for hydroponic cultivation of crops by using mycorrhizal fungi and their partner bacteria includes growing a partner plant between rows of the crops, and inoculating a mycorrhizal fungal strain and a partner bacterial strain to infect the partner plant or the crop with the mycorrhizal fungal strain, wherein the partner bacterial strain is compatible and coexists with the mycorrhizal fungal strain, and the partner plant facilitates growth of the mycorrhizal fungal strain and the partner bacterial strain.

A method of processing signals comprising: obtaining an electrical signal from one or more plant specimens; and processing said obtained electrical signal to generate plant data; wherein the plant data is data indicative of a characteristic of said one or more plant specimens, wherein said characteristic comprises at least one of: a measure of the health of said one or more plant specimens, a measure of the vitality of said one or more plant specimens, and a reaction to environmental changes of said one or more plant specimens.

A method of processing signals comprising: obtaining an electrical signal from one or more plant specimens; and processing said obtained electrical signal to generate plant data; wherein the plant data is data indicative of a characteristic of said one or more plant specimens, wherein said characteristic comprises at least one of: a measure of the health of said one or more plant specimens, a measure of the vitality of said one or more plant specimens, and a reaction to environmental changes of said one or more plant specimens.

To provide a technique whereby, in cultivating a crop, factors relating to differentiation into flower buds and leaf buds, sprouting, flowering and fruiting, growth of young shoots, etc., are regulated. For example, the invention addresses the problem of regulating the growth of a crop so that leaf buds sprout in tandem and with the sprouting of flower buds and flowering and fruiting are repeated under fresh foliage. [Solution] A plant cultivation method which comprises environmentally stimulating a plant to regulate differentiation into flower buds and/or differentiation into leaf buds. In a typical embodiment, the plant is help in an environment at a temperature of 16-40 C. at a photoperiod of 8-13 hours immediately after harvesting fruits. As another environmental stimulus, the plant is held in, for example, an environment at a temperature of 3-7 C. As still another environmental stimulus, the plant as held in, for example, an environment at a temperature of 16-23 C. at a photoperiod of 8-11 hours.

To provide a technique whereby, in cultivating a crop, factors relating to differentiation into flower buds and leaf buds, sprouting, flowering and fruiting, growth of young shoots, etc., are regulated. For example, the invention addresses the problem of regulating the growth of a crop so that leaf buds sprout in tandem and with the sprouting of flower buds and flowering and fruiting are repeated under fresh foliage. [Solution] A plant cultivation method which comprises environmentally stimulating a plant to regulate differentiation into flower buds and/or differentiation into leaf buds. In a typical embodiment, the plant is help in an environment at a temperature of 16-40 C. at a photoperiod of 8-13 hours immediately after harvesting fruits. As another environmental stimulus, the plant is held in, for example, an environment at a temperature of 3-7 C. As still another environmental stimulus, the plant as held in, for example, an environment at a temperature of 16-23 C. at a photoperiod of 8-11 hours.

A method and apparatus for continuous automated growing of plants utilizes a vertical array of plant supporting arms extending radially from a central axis. Each arm has a plurality of pot receptacles which receive the plant seedling and liquid nutrients and water. The potting arms are rotated beneath grow lamps and pollinating arms. The frequency of feeding is increased as the plants grow. CO.sup.2 enriched air may also be provided. Once the plants are ready to harvest, they are manually exchanged for new seedlings and packaged.