A method is provided for cultivating soybean or corn. Also provided is a method for controlling insect pests in a field of soybean or corn. By these methods, insect pests in the fields of soybean or corn can be controlled. Therefore, a good yield of corn or soybean can been obtained.

A method is provided for cultivating soybean or corn. Also provided is a method for controlling insect pests in a field of soybean or corn. By these methods, insect pests in the fields of soybean or corn can be controlled. Therefore, a good yield of corn or soybean can been obtained.

It is intended to provide a component promoting the growth of leguminous plants. The present invention provides a promoter for leguminous plant growth comprising a glycoside of soyasapogenol B as an active ingredient, and a method for promoting the growth of a leguminous plant using a glycoside of soyasapogenol B as an active ingredient. The glycoside of soyasapogenol B is a glycoside having a hydroxy group at position C-22 of the soyasapogenol B and having a saccharide bonded to a hydroxy group at position C-3 of the soyasapogenol B.

It is intended to provide a component promoting the growth of leguminous plants. The present invention provides a promoter for leguminous plant growth comprising a glycoside of soyasapogenol B as an active ingredient, and a method for promoting the growth of a leguminous plant using a glycoside of soyasapogenol B as an active ingredient. The glycoside of soyasapogenol B is a glycoside having a hydroxy group at position C-22 of the soyasapogenol B and having a saccharide bonded to a hydroxy group at position C-3 of the soyasapogenol B.

Provided are compounds of the formula (I)

##STR00001##

which are suitable for controlling animal pests, including arthropods and in particular insects, arachnids and nematodes, and in which the structural elements R.sup.1, p, T, G and U have the meanings given in the description, as are processes for their preparation and their use as insecticides.

Provided are compounds of the formula (I)

##STR00001##

which are suitable for controlling animal pests, including arthropods and in particular insects, arachnids and nematodes, and in which the structural elements R.sup.1, p, T, G and U have the meanings given in the description, as are processes for their preparation and their use as insecticides.

Several embodiments provide cycle and soak irrigation control units, comprising: a housing; a plurality of pairs of actuation line connectors comprising input connectors to couple with output actuation lines of a separate irrigation controller, and output connectors to couple with actuatable devices; a plurality of electrical pathways each coupling a respective input connector to a corresponding output connector and allowing an activation signal to be passed; at least one switch configured to selectively allow or interrupt activation signals to pass to a corresponding output connector; and a timing control circuit controlling the switch, based on an application of an activation signal on an input connector, a duration of a series of cycle-on timings during which the activation signal is emitted from the output connector to activate an actuatable device and soak-off timings during which the activation signal is prevented from being emitted deactivating the actuatable device.

An automated method for analyzing seeds generally includes collecting image data from individual seeds using a seed sampling system, determining at least one characteristic of each of the individual seeds based on the collected image data, and removing tissue from each of the individual seeds using the seed sampling system. The method also includes, prior to removing the tissue sample from each of the individual seeds, adjusting at least one operational parameter of the seed sampling system based on the at least one characteristic of the seed from which the tissue is to be removed to thereby allow for generally consistent removal of tissue from each of the individual seeds. In some aspects, the method further includes analyzing the tissue removed from the seeds for presence or absence of at least one characteristic, and selecting seeds based on presence or absence of the at least one characteristic.

An automated method for analyzing seeds generally includes collecting image data from individual seeds using a seed sampling system, determining at least one characteristic of each of the individual seeds based on the collected image data, and removing tissue from each of the individual seeds using the seed sampling system. The method also includes, prior to removing the tissue sample from each of the individual seeds, adjusting at least one operational parameter of the seed sampling system based on the at least one characteristic of the seed from which the tissue is to be removed to thereby allow for generally consistent removal of tissue from each of the individual seeds. In some aspects, the method further includes analyzing the tissue removed from the seeds for presence or absence of at least one characteristic, and selecting seeds based on presence or absence of the at least one characteristic.

In a method of processing seeds, an angle of repose of processed seeds is determined to evaluate whether the processed seeds have been sufficiently processed in a processing step. In a system for determining an angle of repose of processed seeds, a receptacle receives and supports the seeds in a pile. An image sensor faces the receptacle to capture an image of the pile of processed seeds in the cavity. An image processor is operatively connected to the image sensor to receive the captured image from the image sensor. The image evaluates the image to determine an angle of inclination of the pile based on the image.