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.

Methods and systems for generating a plasma-activated liquid or gas, and applying the plasma-activated liquid for agricultural use. A system embodiment includes a hand-held device that can be pointed and directed at different target areas of a plant. A method embodiment includes generating a plasma discharge in a gas environment or a liquid environment, and applying the gas/liquid to a plant.

Methods and systems for generating a plasma-activated liquid or gas, and applying the plasma-activated liquid for agricultural use. A system embodiment includes a hand-held device that can be pointed and directed at different target areas of a plant. A method embodiment includes generating a plasma discharge in a gas environment or a liquid environment, and applying the gas/liquid to a plant.

A method includes receiving, using at least one processor, first sensor data pertaining to plant-related parameters of each of multiple first plants over time. The method also includes storing the first sensor data in at least one memory. The method further includes identifying, using the at least one processor, an issue affecting at least one of the first plants. The method also includes analyzing, using the at least one processor, at least some of the stored first sensor data to generate a predictive model associated with the issue. The method further includes receiving, using the at least one processor, second sensor data pertaining to plant-related parameters of each of multiple second plants. In addition, the method includes identifying, using the at least one processor, at least one of the second plants to receive one or more interventions by applying the predictive model to the second sensor data.

A method includes receiving, using at least one processor, first sensor data pertaining to plant-related parameters of each of multiple first plants over time. The method also includes storing the first sensor data in at least one memory. The method further includes identifying, using the at least one processor, an issue affecting at least one of the first plants. The method also includes analyzing, using the at least one processor, at least some of the stored first sensor data to generate a predictive model associated with the issue. The method further includes receiving, using the at least one processor, second sensor data pertaining to plant-related parameters of each of multiple second plants. In addition, the method includes identifying, using the at least one processor, at least one of the second plants to receive one or more interventions by applying the predictive model to the second sensor data.

The invention relates to a device for treating soil with electromagnetic radiation, comprising:a magnetron antenna (9) for generating microwave radiation with a relatively high frequency; a wave guide (16) connected to the output of the magnetron antenna (9); downward directed tubular members (18, 19) connected to the wave guide (16);a manifold (17) arranged between the two tubular members (18, 19) and the wave guide (16);a tuner unit (26) arranged on the wave guide (16); andcooling means (22, 22, 22) for cooling the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the soil. The invention also relates to a cable (24) provided with a single high-voltage cable and one or more low-voltage cables and/or a number of optical cables which are arranged in a shared cable. The invention finally relates to a method for disinfecting soil, wherein a magnetron (9) placed on a vehicle is moved over the soil, wherein the radiation reflected by the soil is minimized by tuning the wave guide (16) connected to the magnetron (9), and wherein the minimized reflected radiation is absorbed by a water load which is connected to one or two water tanks (22, 22) which are placed on the vehicle and which hold the temperature of the water within predetermined limits.

The invention relates to a device for treating soil with electromagnetic radiation, comprising:a magnetron antenna (9) for generating microwave radiation with a relatively high frequency; a wave guide (16) connected to the output of the magnetron antenna (9); downward directed tubular members (18, 19) connected to the wave guide (16);a manifold (17) arranged between the two tubular members (18, 19) and the wave guide (16);a tuner unit (26) arranged on the wave guide (16); andcooling means (22, 22, 22) for cooling the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the soil. The invention also relates to a cable (24) provided with a single high-voltage cable and one or more low-voltage cables and/or a number of optical cables which are arranged in a shared cable. The invention finally relates to a method for disinfecting soil, wherein a magnetron (9) placed on a vehicle is moved over the soil, wherein the radiation reflected by the soil is minimized by tuning the wave guide (16) connected to the magnetron (9), and wherein the minimized reflected radiation is absorbed by a water load which is connected to one or two water tanks (22, 22) which are placed on the vehicle and which hold the temperature of the water within predetermined limits.

The present invention refers to new methods for the production of food, and/or drinks, and/or dietary supplements with a low content of cholesterol and/or with a high content of dicarboxylic acids. The present invention refers also to foodstuffs and/or drinks and/or dietary supplements that can be obtained with these methods and to their utilization, for instance in the prevention and treatment of diseases where carbohydrates and/or lipids are not correctly metabolized or in any of the pathologic states associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and Alzheimer disease. Specifically, the present invention refers to methods to produce low-cholesterol eggs and to methods to produce plants both terrestrial and aquatic plants and/or algae for food use, and/or dietary supplements and/or drinks enriched with dicarboxylic acids.

The present invention refers to new methods for the production of food, and/or drinks, and/or dietary supplements with a low content of cholesterol and/or with a high content of dicarboxylic acids. The present invention refers also to foodstuffs and/or drinks and/or dietary supplements that can be obtained with these methods and to their utilization, for instance in the prevention and treatment of diseases where carbohydrates and/or lipids are not correctly metabolized or in any of the pathologic states associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and Alzheimer disease. Specifically, the present invention refers to methods to produce low-cholesterol eggs and to methods to produce plants both terrestrial and aquatic plants and/or algae for food use, and/or dietary supplements and/or drinks enriched with dicarboxylic acids.

A monitoring device 100 for agricultural use comprising a housing 12 adapted to accommodate at least a solar radiation sensor positioned in the top portion of the housing 12, the housing 12 comprising an aperture at the top end 18 adapted to allow the solar radiation sensor to be exposed through the aperture. The housing is attached to a hanger 22 located at the same level or below the top end 18 of the housing 12 and adapted to hang the housing 12 on a hanging element such as a cable. The housing 12 may further comprises a leveling component 34 for leveling the solar radiation sensor or the entire monitoring device 100. The monitoring device 100 optionally comprises a shading sleeve 48 compatible with passing the hanging element through the monitoring device 100.