A method of managing treatment of crop is disclosed. The method comprises: monitoring a first parameter describing a daily shrinkage of a plant part of the crop, and a second parameter describing daily growth rate of a plant part of the crop. The method further comprises calculating a plant status function based on a value of the first parameter and a value of the second parameter, and operating a crop treatment system responsively to the plant status function.

A formulation and a composition that comprises it for promoting the pollination of almond tree crops (Prunus dulcis) by biasing the foraging preferences of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). The formulation comprises the compounds limonene, linalool and benzaldehyde. Additionally, a method for targeting the bees' pollinizing activity towards the almond tree crops by using the formulation comprising the compounds limonene, linalool and benzaldehyde.

A formulation and a composition that comprises it for promoting the pollination of almond tree crops (Prunus dulcis) by biasing the foraging preferences of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). The formulation comprises the compounds limonene, linalool and benzaldehyde. Additionally, a method for targeting the bees' pollinizing activity towards the almond tree crops by using the formulation comprising the compounds limonene, linalool and benzaldehyde.

An automated plant cultivation system operating seed or plant capsule(s) and/or capsule(s) retaining casing(s) capable of controlling the growing environment of each plant capsule throughout the plant life cycle wherein the capsule(s) can be adapted to operate under any irrigation method.

An automated plant cultivation system operating seed or plant capsule(s) and/or capsule(s) retaining casing(s) capable of controlling the growing environment of each plant capsule throughout the plant life cycle wherein the capsule(s) can be adapted to operate under any irrigation method.

At least one sensor carried by a mobile machine senses a sensed forage crop attribute value independent of plant population for an individual forage plant. A processing unit derives a derived forage crop attribute value based on the sensed forage crop attribute value. The derived forage crop attribute value is used to determine a field condition.

Systems and methods for facilitating communication among grow pods are provided. One embodiment of a system includes a remote computing device that includes a memory component that stores logic. The logic may cause the remote computing device to receive a grow recipe that includes actions for a particular grow pod to grow a plant, implement the grow recipe on the particular grow pod; determine an output of the plant in the particular grow pod using the grow recipe, and determine a random adjustment to the grow recipe. In some embodiments, the logic may cause the computing device to determine an output of the plant in the particular grow pod using the random adjustment to the grow recipe and determine whether the random adjustment to the grow recipe resulted in an improvement in output.

Systems and methods for facilitating communication among grow pods are provided. One embodiment of a system includes a remote computing device that includes a memory component that stores logic. The logic may cause the remote computing device to receive a grow recipe that includes actions for a particular grow pod to grow a plant, implement the grow recipe on the particular grow pod; determine an output of the plant in the particular grow pod using the grow recipe, and determine a random adjustment to the grow recipe. In some embodiments, the logic may cause the computing device to determine an output of the plant in the particular grow pod using the random adjustment to the grow recipe and determine whether the random adjustment to the grow recipe resulted in an improvement in output.

An illumination apparatus (300) has: a surface (310) to be irradiated; and light-emitting devices (200) that are each obliquely arranged directly above the surface (310). The light-emitting devices (200) each have a light-emitting element (210) and a luminous flux control member (100). The luminous flux control member (100) distributes light emitted from the light-emitting element (210) in directions above and below the optical axis (OA) of the light-emitting element (210). The absolute value of the angle (1) formed between the optical axis (OA) and the optical axis of the light directed upward is smaller than the absolute value of the angle (2) formed between the optical axis (OA) and the optical axis of the light directed downward.

An illumination apparatus (300) has: a surface (310) to be irradiated; and light-emitting devices (200) that are each obliquely arranged directly above the surface (310). The light-emitting devices (200) each have a light-emitting element (210) and a luminous flux control member (100). The luminous flux control member (100) distributes light emitted from the light-emitting element (210) in directions above and below the optical axis (OA) of the light-emitting element (210). The absolute value of the angle (1) formed between the optical axis (OA) and the optical axis of the light directed upward is smaller than the absolute value of the angle (2) formed between the optical axis (OA) and the optical axis of the light directed downward.