In agriculture, one of the most important issues is the extent to which the yield of high-quality crops can be increased while saving labor and reducing costs. However, there are many problems in that so-called injuries of crops due to continuous cropping and other causes seriously reduce productivity. The present invention provides an apparatus and a method that provides a method of feeding plants CO.sub.2 on foliage or O.sub.2 on roots by way of injecting a gas into a liquid such that the bubbles formed are of a size that allows them to remain suspended in the liquid for up to two days without dissolving into the liquid thus allowing the system to use the liquid with the suspended bubbles as a foliar or root spray or as a liquid for use in a hydroponic growing system.

A plant grow unit (10) includes a body (12) that bounds an interior area (14). Access to the interior area is controlled by a door (18). The interior area houses a plurality of grow lights (50) which are selectively operated in response to at least one control circuit (96) to provide suitable illumination and radiation for growing selected plants. Shelves (46, 48) are selectively positionable for supporting plants thereon. A plurality of sensors and devices in the interior area are operated responsive to the control circuit to maintain desired conditions for plant growth within the interior area and to indicate detected conditions.

A plant grow unit (10) includes a body (12) that bounds an interior area (14). Access to the interior area is controlled by a door (18). The interior area houses a plurality of grow lights (50) which are selectively operated in response to at least one control circuit (96) to provide suitable illumination and radiation for growing selected plants. Shelves (46, 48) are selectively positionable for supporting plants thereon. A plurality of sensors and devices in the interior area are operated responsive to the control circuit to maintain desired conditions for plant growth within the interior area and to indicate detected conditions.

A plant growing system comprising a growing panel and a porous air hose coupled to the growing panel. The growing panel includes a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of plant receptacles. The plurality of openings are arranged in a plurality of parallel lines on the growing panel, and the porous air hose extends along the growing panel between at least two of the parallel lines.

A plant root management and protection system configured for embedding within a dug pit, the system comprising: a sidewall peripherally defining a receiving internal cavity and having (i) a top opening dimensioned to receive a root ball of a plant therethrough, and (ii) a bottom opening defined by a peripheral edge of the sidewall; and at least one root-guiding extension extending outwardly from the sidewall and perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the sidewall, wherein each of the at least one root-guiding extensions defines an open-ended hollow passageway in communication with the cavity; wherein, when embedded a dug pit, the longitudinal axis of the sidewall is upright and the top opening does not extend above surface level, and wherein at least a vertical portion of the sidewall ending with the peripheral edge is configured for entrenching in a bottom surface of the pit.

A system, comprising: a housing comprising an elongated hollow body configured to be at least partially embedded in a soil environment adjacent a plant at a desired depth; a swellable element dimensioned to be disposed within the housing, the swellable element being configured to swell when absorbing moisture; a resiliently-compressible flexible tube configured to provide water to the soil environment, the flexible tube is laced transversely through tube openings of the housing, the flexible tube is disposed adjacent to the swellable element inside the housing such that a swelling or displacement of the swellable element compresses the flexible tube, thereby limiting or preventing water flow therethrough; and a moisture transfer adapter configured to communicate moisture along its length from a desired location within the soil environment to the swellable element, as well as methods of using the system.

A system, comprising: a housing comprising an elongated hollow body configured to be at least partially embedded in a soil environment adjacent a plant at a desired depth; a swellable element dimensioned to be disposed within the housing, the swellable element being configured to swell when absorbing moisture; a resiliently-compressible flexible tube configured to provide water to the soil environment, the flexible tube is laced transversely through tube openings of the housing, the flexible tube is disposed adjacent to the swellable element inside the housing such that a swelling or displacement of the swellable element compresses the flexible tube, thereby limiting or preventing water flow therethrough; and a moisture transfer adapter configured to communicate moisture along its length from a desired location within the soil environment to the swellable element, as well as methods of using the system.

A sewage treatment apparatus is provided for reducing nitrogen content in sewage fluid (e.g., after primary treatment). The apparatus uses vegetation to process the sewage fluid and reduce ammonia and organic nitrogen in the processed sewage fluid by uptake of the ammonia and organic nitrogen into the vegetation and by converting the residual ammonia and organic nitrogen into nitrites and nitrates. The apparatus also uses a feedback loop to combine the processed sewage fluid and the raw sewage fluid, such that nitrites and nitrates in the processed sewage fluid are reduced by interacting with carbonaceous waste in the raw sewage fluid.

A sewage treatment apparatus is provided for reducing nitrogen content in sewage fluid (e.g., after primary treatment). The apparatus uses vegetation to process the sewage fluid and reduce ammonia and organic nitrogen in the processed sewage fluid by uptake of the ammonia and organic nitrogen into the vegetation and by converting the residual ammonia and organic nitrogen into nitrites and nitrates. The apparatus also uses a feedback loop to combine the processed sewage fluid and the raw sewage fluid, such that nitrites and nitrates in the processed sewage fluid are reduced by interacting with carbonaceous waste in the raw sewage fluid.

Process for the treatment of plant tissue having a capillary system with active substances and/or dyestuffs, characterised in that a shaped piece containing openings and/or having grooves or knobs on its surface, the openings or surface structure of which are loaded with active substance and/or dyestuff, is applied to the plant tissue with the aid of a setting tool or setting device in such a way that no air penetrates into the capillary system.