One variation of a method for identifying stressors in crops based on fluorescence of sensor plants includes: accessing a set of spectral images of a sensor plant sown in a crop, the sensor plant of a sensor plant type including a set of promoters and a set of reporters configured to signal a set of stressors present at the sensor plant, the set of promoters and set of reporters forming a set of promoter-reporter pairs; accessing a reporter model linking characteristics extracted from the set of spectral images of the sensor plant to the set of stressors based on signals generated by the set of promoter-reporter pairs in the sensor plant type; and identifying a first stressor, in the set of stressors, present at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and characteristics extracted from the set of spectral images.

This invention relates to a horticulture additive comprising: (1) a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent is a multi-branched polymer comprising at least one of an oxygen-containing and a nitrogen-containing polyfunctional base compound having at least three branches attached thereto, and (2) a humectant. The horticulture additive is advantageous for increasing plant survival of plants treated therewith when exposed to reduced watering conditions.

This invention relates to a horticulture additive comprising: (1) a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent is a multi-branched polymer comprising at least one of an oxygen-containing and a nitrogen-containing polyfunctional base compound having at least three branches attached thereto, and (2) a humectant. The horticulture additive is advantageous for increasing plant survival of plants treated therewith when exposed to reduced watering conditions.

There is disclosed a method and system for regulating plant irrigation at a crop field. The method comprises obtaining soil water tension (SWT) data and/or soil water content (SWC) data corresponding to a crop field. The SWT data and/or the SWC data is segmented into three segments. A respective line of best fit is determined for each of the three segments. The intercepts of the lines of best fit are used to determine an irrigation start threshold and an irrigation stop threshold. Devices that control irrigation for the crop field are caused to start or stop irrigation based on the irrigation start threshold and irrigation stop threshold.

A system for automatic plant monitoring includes a camera for capturing images of a plant, within a view area, over time; creating an image collection over time. A processing unit receives the images from the camera and provides a collection of samplers, each sampler representing a location within the view area. Detecting the members of said plant. The processing unit applying sampling rules for detecting the members of said plant. Taking one image from said image collection and scoring the image as a function of the image application of the rules of the image and producing a progress score

A sunlight exposure indicator device is disclosed that can determine the amount of time (e.g., hours) of PAR sunlight that occurs in a specific area for the optimal growth of a plant, as corresponds to the plant industry common designations of Full Shade, Partial Shade, Partial Sun and Full Sun. These designations can be used to determine plant selection for all types of plants including grasses, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and herbs, and trees. This device utilizes irreversible, slow-reacting, photochromic pigments applied to a substrate. Using multiple instances of this device will allow someone to easily test and accurately determine the amount of PAR sunlight (hours) received during a one-day sunlight cycle in multiple spots simultaneously. The sunlight exposure indicator device is a one-time-use, non-electronic, disposable device.

A sunlight exposure indicator device is disclosed that can determine the amount of time (e.g., hours) of PAR sunlight that occurs in a specific area for the optimal growth of a plant, as corresponds to the plant industry common designations of Full Shade, Partial Shade, Partial Sun and Full Sun. These designations can be used to determine plant selection for all types of plants including grasses, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and herbs, and trees. This device utilizes irreversible, slow-reacting, photochromic pigments applied to a substrate. Using multiple instances of this device will allow someone to easily test and accurately determine the amount of PAR sunlight (hours) received during a one-day sunlight cycle in multiple spots simultaneously. The sunlight exposure indicator device is a one-time-use, non-electronic, disposable device.

A portable apparatus for analyzing a plant specimen. A housing assembly defines a sensing volume and controls entry of ambient light into the sensing volume when the housing is closed. A specimen support positions a plant specimen within the sensing volume whereby light emitted from at least one light emitter is incident upon the plant specimen. An image sensor senses light from the at least one light emitter that has been incident on the plant specimen. A processor analyzes data obtained from the light sensor to assess one or more properties of the plant specimen. There may be more than one light emitter, e.g., a halogen lamp and LED array, and the apparatus may acquire images under more than one lighting condition. The apparatus may include a mechanism for moving the plant specimen relative to the optical path to take images at multiple regions of interest on the specimen.

The plant state detection system includes an odor detector including an odor detection unit configured to detect an odorant emitted from a plant, and a plant state detector configured to acquire odor information detected by the odor detection unit and detect a state of the plant based on the odor information.

The plant state detection system includes a gas detector including a gas detection unit configured to detect gas emitted from the plant, and a server configured to acquire gas information detected by the gas detection unit and detect the state of the plant based on the gas information, wherein the gas detection unit detects one or both of leaf alcohol and leaf aldehyde as gas.