A coastal severe saline-alkali soil improvement and vegetation construction system consists of four parts of content, respectively a soil improvement part, a saline-alkaline tolerant plant resource utilization and planting technology part, an irrigation and drainage mating system part, and a part for managing saline-alkaline soil improvement and operation by adopting an automated information technology. A whole set of complete operation system is formed for performing improvement and vegetation construction on saline-alkaline soil from the four parts, thereby providing a feasible high-efficiency method for saline-alkaline soil improvement of a coastal region.

A coastal severe saline-alkali soil improvement and vegetation construction system consists of four parts of content, respectively a soil improvement part, a saline-alkaline tolerant plant resource utilization and planting technology part, an irrigation and drainage mating system part, and a part for managing saline-alkaline soil improvement and operation by adopting an automated information technology. A whole set of complete operation system is formed for performing improvement and vegetation construction on saline-alkaline soil from the four parts, thereby providing a feasible high-efficiency method for saline-alkaline soil improvement of a coastal region.

A free-space optical communication apparatus control apparatus includes: a detecting section for detecting an impediment to laser communication of a free-space optical communication apparatus; and a judging section for judging, in accordance with the state of the impediment to the laser communication, whether pruning of a tree is necessary.

The presently claimed invention is related to a method for vegetative propagation of woody plants selected from the group consisting of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.), Salix sp., olive tree (Olea europaea), rootstock Atlas (Prunus persica x Prunus dulcis x Prunus blireiana), blueberries (Vaccinum corymbosurn), Vitis vinifera, Aristotelia chilensis, Quillaja saponaria and Quercus ilex, from prepared leaf cuttings, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing cuts of leaf cuttings from a donor tree, b) immersing the prepared leaf cutting into a combination of growth regulators, c) planting the prepared leaf cutting into a solid substrate of organic and/or inorganic origin, d) inducing sprouting and rooting of the prepared leaf cutting, by means of controlled ambient temperature, humidity and illumination, wherein steps a) through d) always occur outside an in vitro environment; and embodiments thereof.

A sowing unit including water-absorbing material, an enclosure and a seed, wherein the water-absorbing material includes a hygroscopic negatively-charged material capable of binding a positively charged nutrient ion selected from NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine; and optionally a nutrient including a positively charged nutrient ion selected from K+, NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine. Methods and uses of the sowing unit are described.

A device for watering a tree comprises a water container, an inlet to receive water into the container, an inlet valve configured to close the inlet to the container when a water level within the container reaches a maximum water level and open when the water level drops below the maximum water level, a pressure relief mechanism to limit a pressure in the container to a maximum pressure greater than ambient pressure, and one or more outlets to allow water to discharge from the container to apply water to a rootzone of a tree in use.

An Integrated dual-use machine is for harvesting and treating fruit on trees, in order to harvest the fruit when in season and treat the fruit on the tree with phytosanitary products. The machine includes a moveable structure, intended to shelter the fruit trees. The moveable structure includes a collection unit for the fruit that has been brought down, and is supported on one or two traction vehicles. The vehicles include at least one device for projecting and orienting air currents, at least one infrared camera, at least one collection belt, at least one load container, at least one conveyor belt that connects the collection belt to a load trailer, and a traction system that actuates tractor treads.

The present invention relates to the promotion of the growth of at least one plant by providing a fertilizer composition-comprising at least one zeolite, into the pores of which at least one basic L-amino acid has been adsorbed; adding the fertilizer composition to a medium for plant growth; and culturing a plant therein. The invention will provide the release of nitrogen from the fertilizer composition during culture of the plant at a rate which is advantageously used by the plant. The invention also relates to a fertilizer composition as such, optionally combined with a medium for plant growth to make up a growth-promoting material. The invention is advantageously used to reduce the resources required in the fertilization of slowly growing plants, where repeated supply of nutrients as well as leakage of nitrogen amounts to large costs to society.

The present invention relates to the promotion of the growth of at least one plant by providing a fertilizer composition-comprising at least one zeolite, into the pores of which at least one basic L-amino acid has been adsorbed; adding the fertilizer composition to a medium for plant growth; and culturing a plant therein. The invention will provide the release of nitrogen from the fertilizer composition during culture of the plant at a rate which is advantageously used by the plant. The invention also relates to a fertilizer composition as such, optionally combined with a medium for plant growth to make up a growth-promoting material. The invention is advantageously used to reduce the resources required in the fertilization of slowly growing plants, where repeated supply of nutrients as well as leakage of nitrogen amounts to large costs to society.

Methods and compositions are disclosed to improve biomass accumulation in Truncated Light-harvesting Antenna (TLA) crop plant canopies as compared to biomass accumulation measured in wild-type counterparts grown under the same high canopy-density, agronomic, and ambient sunlight conditions.