A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.

A water treatment system 1 includes at least one aquaculture water tank 10 configured to culture water creatures; at least one hydroponic culture water tank 20 configured to hydroponically grow plants; and a water treatment device 30 configured to treat water discharged from the aquaculture water tank 10 and supply the treated water to the hydroponic culture water tank 20. The water treatment device 30 controls the amount of nutrient content for the plants to be supplied to the hydroponic culture water tank 20 by generating the nutrient content from impurities contained in the water discharged from the aquaculture water tank 10 and in a case where the amount of the generated nutrient content is excessive, storing the excessive nutrient content in a storage tank 33.

Embodiments of the present invention provide hydroponics farming apparatus, and systems including the same. The farming apparatus comprises a frame, a plurality of functional systems, a first plurality of sensors configured to monitor conditions associated with farming of the one or more plants, and one or more modular storage cabinets removably attached to the frame. The one or more modular storages include electronics that are pre-assembled and configured to communicate with one or more of the first plurality of sensors and the plurality of functional systems. The electronics includes a main controller configured to collect data from the first plurality of sensors.

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.

There is a modular, insulated, all-in-one, plug-and-play (MIAP) aquaponics unit that includes a framework having a single base and plural walls; an aquaculture tank defined by a first portion of the single base and a first set of the plural walls; a clarifier tank defined by a second portion of the single base and a second set of the plural walls; a bio-reactor tank defined by a third portion of the single base and a third set of the plural walls; a hydroponics tank defined by a fourth portion of the single base and a fourth set of the plural walls; and piping extending through the plural walls between each two adjacent tanks for allowing water from the aquaculture tank to flow into the clarifier tank and then into the bio-reactor tank and then into the hydroponics tank and back to the aquaculture tank.

Crops, for example microgreens, may be aeroponically grown from seed on substrates. The substrates may be seeded with the substrates in a horizontal position, and then arranged vertically for germination and further growth. A gelling material in solution, with the gelling material for example a gellum, may be applied to the substrates, while in the horizontal position, so that the seeds are retained on the substrates when the substrates are moved to a vertical position.

Crops, for example microgreens, may be aeroponically grown from seed on substrates. The substrates may be seeded with the substrates in a horizontal position, and then arranged vertically for germination and further growth. A gelling material in solution, with the gelling material for example a gellum, may be applied to the substrates, while in the horizontal position, so that the seeds are retained on the substrates when the substrates are moved to a vertical position.

A system, method, and apparatus for ensiling hydroponically grown cellulosic material is disclosed. A grower system for growing plants and crops provides an aerobic environment by controlling a plurality of environmental factors that decrease environmental stresses surrounding the plants or crops. The decrease in environmental stresses increases hydrolytic enzyme activity and releases additional hydrolytic enzymes. The hydrolytic enzymes breakdown a plurality of complex storage molecules of the plant or crop into simple storage molecules. The breakdown of the plurality of complex storage molecules increases the nutrient availability and dry matter of the ensiled cellulosic material as well as the shelf life of the ensiled cellulosic material.

A system, method, and apparatus for ensiling hydroponically grown cellulosic material is disclosed. A grower system for growing plants and crops provides an aerobic environment by controlling a plurality of environmental factors that decrease environmental stresses surrounding the plants or crops. The decrease in environmental stresses increases hydrolytic enzyme activity and releases additional hydrolytic enzymes. The hydrolytic enzymes breakdown a plurality of complex storage molecules of the plant or crop into simple storage molecules. The breakdown of the plurality of complex storage molecules increases the nutrient availability and dry matter of the ensiled cellulosic material as well as the shelf life of the ensiled cellulosic material.