A system for measuring moisture in soil below the ground surface comprises at least one passive microwave sensor device configured to measure natural thermal emissions from the soil and output a data signal and a processing circuit operably coupled to the at least one passive microwave sensor wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive the data signal and compile a soil moisture profile. The system further comprises a wide-band antenna wherein the at least one passive microwave sensor is located therein and an elongate horizontal mounting frame extending between first and second ends wherein the first end is securable to a mobile agricultural device and wherein the wide-band antenna is secured to the second end so as to position the wide-band antenna at a distance above the ground surface.

Nozzle control systems and methods for applying an agricultural product using an agricultural vehicle and plurality of valves separated into subgroups are disclosed. An example method includes actuating the valves to dispense the agricultural product, wherein the actuating includes (a) actuating a first subgroup of valves and a second subgroup of valves in succession using a phase delay; and (b) actuating successive valves in the first subgroup and successive valves in the second subgroup using at least one subgroup time delay. The subgroup time delay can be determined based on one or more vehicle speed values and a total number of the plurality of valves.

An agricultural sprayer includes a boom assembly having first and second wing boom sections. Additionally, the sprayer includes an actuator configured to adjust a fore/aft tilt angle of the boom assembly, with the fore/aft tilt angle defined between a central axis of the boom assembly and a vertical direction. Moreover, the sprayer includes a sensor configured to capture data associated with a position of the second boom section relative to the first boom section. In this respect, a computing system is configured to determine an angle defined between the first and second boom sections or a height of a tip of the second boom section based on the data captured by the sensor. In addition, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the actuator to adjust the fore/aft tilt angle of the boom assembly based on the determined angle or the determined height.

An irrigation system for use with a spa includes a water heating circuit, an automatic water fill valve connected to a water source, and an irrigation pump in fluid communication with the spa through a first irrigation line and electrically connected to a power source through a switch arrangement. The irrigation pump is adapted to pump water to at least one irrigation head. The automatic water fill valve then refills the spa from the water source. The system may include a fertilizer injector, a skin-product injector, a water softener, and various sensors running through an irrigation application on a smart phone to control the irrigation system and operation of the spa.

An apparatus for spraying flowable media and in particular plant protection agents onto plants, has at least a first spray unit and a second spray unit wherein each of the spray units has a tubular conduit unit that extends in a predetermined longitudinal direction and is suitable and intended for conducting a flowable plant protection agent, and wherein each of the spray units has at least one spray head that is in flow communication with the conduit unit associated therewith. The spray units are provided in a pivotable manner in relation to a predetermined pivot axis on a carrier, and the apparatus has an adjustment unit that allows both the first spray unit and the second spray unit to be pivoted between a working position and an idle position.

A planter system for planting seeds and spraying fluid includes a seeder assembly including a seed tube, a seed meter configured to dispense a seed into the seed tube, and a conveyor apparatus configured to carry the seed through the seed tube. The planter system also includes a sensor configured to transmit a detection signal upon detection of the seed passing a detection location. The planter system also includes a control system configured to determine a travel time of the seed from the detection location to a furrow based on a baseline drop time for the seed, a baseline travel speed of the seeder assembly, and an operating travel speed of the seeder assembly. The control system is configured to transmit a control signal to a valve coupled to a nozzle assembly based on the travel time and the detection signal to spray the fluid on or adjacent the seed.

A method to grow cannabis is described, wherein the method includes providing and treating a source of water, mixing the water with an additive to form a liquid mixture, transferring the liquid mixture to a plurality of cannabis plants grown in a growing medium including a mycorrhiza fungus, and growing the cannabis using a humidity control method, then harvesting the cannabis plants. Trimming and grinding the cannabis along with use of environmental control methods including temperature, humidity, lighting schedules, and carbon dioxide concentrations are also described.

A drip irrigation treatment device, which comprises a water storage tank, wherein a partition plate is arranged in the water storage tank and divides the interior of the water storage tank into a conveying cavity and a purifying cavity, one side of the conveying cavity and one side of the purifying cavity are jointly connected with a first water conveying mechanism, a protection box is arranged on one side of the water storage tank, a filter box is arranged in the protection box, one side of the upper end of the protection box is connected with a sewage conveying pipe, the lower end of the sewage conveying pipe corresponds to the filter box, a filtering mechanism is arranged in the filter box, a buffer moving mechanism is arranged on the periphery of the filter box, and a rotating mechanism is arranged on one side in the protection box.

A fertilizer gradient energy system includes a membrane module. A membrane module may include a first section and a second section. The first and second sections may be separated by a semipermeable membrane. A load may be connected to the membrane module. The first section may be configured to receive a concentrated fertilizer solution. The second section may be configured to receive a freshwater feed solution. In embodiments, a semipermeable membrane may be configured to facilitate pressure retarded osmosis of the freshwater feed solution from the first section to the second section to increase a fluid pressure in the second section. The semipermeable membrane may include an anion exchange membrane. The membrane module may include a third section. A cation exchange membrane may separate the first and third section. Anion and cation exchange membranes may facilitate reverse electrodialysis. Methods of capturing energy via a membrane module are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for regulating the pH of a soil as well as the use of at least one earth alkali carbonate-containing material having a weight median particle size d.sub.50 value of ≤50.0 μm for optimizing or improving the pH of a soil as well as the use of an irrigation or spraying system for the application of an aqueous suspension comprising at least one earth alkali carbonate-containing material in order to optimize or improve the pH of a soil.