A system for growing plants includes an elevated track circuit comprising two straight track sections and two arcuate track sections, with the straight track sections each including a cavity. A plurality of wheeled trolleys that each include a wheel configured to roll within the cavities and each include a shaft extending downwardly form the wheel. A drive system is configured to move the wheeled trolleys along the track circuit with the wheeled trolleys connected together by a cable, and with the shafts of the trolleys configured to support plants coupled thereto to selectively move the plants along the track circuit. Uses of the system include for growing produce of vine plants in a lean-and-lower manner, or transporting hanging plants through an irrigation device of the system.

A machine for pulling off plant branches, in particular vine branches, of tying wires to which they cling by tendrils comprising a combination of means capable to extract the branches downwards. The combination of means comprises a (resiliently pivoted) pressing member and a pulling member facing the pressing member. In operation, the pulling member is moving so that its surface oriented towards the pressing member moves downwards. Cut-off branches are pressed on this surface by the pressing member by a force sufficient that the branches are dragged downwardly along and are forcibly detached from the tying wires. The downward removal corresponds to the about V-shaped ramifications of the plant, so that it is effected more easily and without obstruction by the ramifications which tend to get caught by the tying wires when removal occurs upwards. A branch not cut-off and tied to the trellis wire withstands the pressing member provided a suitable adjusted resilient pressing force is selected, supported by the pressing member consisting of a resilient material like an elastomer. Such a branch will not suffer any contact, or at least a minimal contact only, with the pulling device.

Coloring of fruits is promoted by applying a one or more the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and/or phenylalanine, in combination with abscisic acid to a fruit plant, such as those of the genus Vitaceae or Rosaceae. The amino acid(s) and abscisic acid may be present in a solution(s) having concentrations of 0.2 mM to 100 mM and 0.1 M to 10 mM, respectively.

A container can be used for growing a plant having roots. The container can comprise a rectangular sheet having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. The first side edge and the second side edge are joined forming a cylinder. The upper edge is configured to rest above a ground surface such that vertical root growth is substantially uninhibited by the container above the ground surface. An inward contoured lip can be formed into the lower edge. The rectangular sheet from the upper edge to the inward contoured lip constrains lateral growth of the roots of the plant above the ground surface while vertical root growth is completely uninhibited by the container below the inward contoured lip.

An Internet-of-Things management and control system for an intelligent orchard includes a server, agricultural machinery equipment, an image acquisition apparatus disposed on the site, and various sensors. The agricultural machinery equipment, the image acquisition apparatus and the various sensors are in communication connection with the server. The server includes an orchard management subsystem and an information monitoring subsystem. The orchard management subsystem includes a fruit tree planting planning module, a task management module and various information management modules, and the information monitoring subsystem includes a meteorological environment monitoring module, a soil moisture monitoring module and a disease and pest monitoring module. According to the Internet-of-Things management and control system, all-round management for an orchard from planning to picking can be achieved.

This disclosure includes a method for pruning a fruit plant. An exemplary method step includes obtaining an image of the fruit plant that has branches. Next, creating exclusion zones surrounding the branches. Then pruning the fruit plant based upon the exclusion zones.

Methods for predicting a yield of fruit growing in an agricultural plot are provided. At a first time, a first plurality of images of a canopy of the agricultural plot is obtained from an aerial view of the canopy of the agricultural plot. From the first plurality of images, a first number of detectable fruit is estimated. At a second time, a second plurality of images of the canopy of the agricultural plot is obtained from the aerial view of the canopy of the agricultural plot. From the second plurality of images, a second number of detectable fruit is estimated. Using at least the first number of detectable fruit and the second number of detectable fruit and agricultural plot information, predict the yield of fruit from the agricultural plot.

A trellis component includes a tubular portion, a connector adapted to be inserted within an upper end of the tubular portion, at least two support arms, and a crop line, which are arranged such that the connector is within the upper end of the tubular portion, the arms are within and extend outwardly from the connector, and the crop line is supported by the arms in an elevated disposition to in turn support a crop.

A computer platform implements a precision agriculture system that predicts output conditions, such as diseases, salt damage, soil problems, water leaks and generic anomalies, for orchards under analysis. The computer platform stores site and crop datasets and processed satellite image for the orchards. An orchard data learned model predicts a propensity for existence of output conditions associated with the permanent crops based on the data values for the variables of the site and crop datasets. Also, a satellite model predicts a propensity for existence of the output conditions at the orchard based on processed satellite images. A precision agriculture management model is disclosed that integrates the orchard data learned model with the satellite model to accurately predict the output conditions.

A computer platform implements a precision agriculture system that predicts output conditions, such as diseases, salt damage, soil problems, water leaks and generic anomalies, for orchards under analysis. The computer platform stores site and crop datasets and processed satellite image for the orchards. An orchard data learned model predicts a propensity for existence of output conditions associated with the permanent crops based on the data values for the variables of the site and crop datasets. Also, a satellite model predicts a propensity for existence of the output conditions at the orchard based on processed satellite images. A precision agriculture management model is disclosed that integrates the orchard data learned model with the satellite model to accurately predict the output conditions.