The present invention relates to an apparatus and system for transporting a length of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size into a propagation tray.

Provided are methods of inserting seedlings into soil plugs. The method includes: a) automatically identifying a target seedling located in a pick-up area using seedling detection apparatus; b) pick-up up the target seedling with an automated seedling handling apparatus; c) transporting the target seedling to an insertion area; d) providing a first soil plug in the insertion area to receive the target seedling, the first soil plug having a first plug end, a second plug end longitudinally spaced apart from the first plug end and a longitudinal slit extending from the first plug end toward the second plug end; e) spreading the slit in the first soil plug; f) inserting a root portion of the seedling into the slit while a stem portion of the seedling is positioned outside the first soil plug; and g) stripping the target seedling from the handling apparatus whereby the seedling remains received within the slit in the first soil plug.

Also provided are apparatuses and systems for inserting seedlings into soil plugs.

The invention relates to a method in a seedling planting machine and to a seedling planting machine, in which, seedlings are extracted from a seedling storage. In the method, the seedling storage is held in its place on a storage track of the planting machine with first holding elements by a first toothed bar. The seedling storage is transferred on the storage track of the planting machine by moving second holding elements by a second toothed bar, in relation to the first holding elements and to the storage track, so that the seedling storage comes into contact with the second holding elements. The seedling storage is transferred by the second holding elements a transfer distance forward on the storage track. The seedling storage is transferred by the first holding elements, and the seedling storage is detached from the second holding elements.

One variation of a method for automating transfer of plants within an agricultural facility includes: dispatching a loader to autonomously deliver a first moduledefining a first array of plant slots at a first density and loaded with a first set of plants at a first growth stagefrom a first grow location within an agricultural facility to a transfer station within the agricultural facility; dispatching the loader to autonomously deliver a second moduledefining a second array of plant slots at a second density less than the first density and empty of plantsto the transfer station; recording a module-level optical scan of the first module; extracting a viability parameter of the first set of plants from features detected in the module-level optical scan; and if the viability parameter falls outside of a target viability range, rejecting transfer of the first set of plants from the first module.

A seedling growing system according includes: a cargo transport container provided with heat insulating treatment; a movement robot configured to move on a path in the cargo transport container; seedling growing tray racks including a multi-shelf germination racks configured to hold, until germination, a seedling growing tray wherein seeds are sown, a multi-shelf seedling growing racks configured to hold a seedling growing tray wherein seedlings have germinated and including an artificial light source and an automatic watering device, and a multi-shelf shipment rack configured to hold a seedling growing tray for shipping grown seedlings, the racks being disposed side by side on a side or sides of the path in the cargo transport container; and a transfer means provided to the movement robot and configured to transfer each seedling growing tray between movement robot and each of the multi-shelf germination racks, multi-shelf seedling growing racks, and the multi-shelf shipment rack.

A system for pulsed hydroponic plant growth without using a media substrate to support plant roots includes a growth platform, a mixing tank, and a hydraulic delivery system, wherein the growth platform is shaped to form multiple apertures, each configured to support a growth ring, and the hydraulic delivery system includes sensors, a high pressure pump, multiple inline valves, and multiple micro-sprayers, the high pressure pump, inline valves, and micro-sprayers being hydraulically coupled to the mixing tank. The mixing tank is configured to combine nutrients in water to generate a nutrient solution for a nutrient solution mist for release through micro-sprayers located in proximity to one or more growth rings, and the hydraulic delivery system is configured to pulse the release of the nutrient solution mist during a feeding cycle at a selected pulse-width.

An embodiment provides an agricultural system comprising a plurality of trays, each tray being suitable for holding a substrate in which a crop can grow, a structure for supporting the plurality of trays in a stacked arrangement, the system further comprising a lighting system for delivering light to the crops and a nutrient supply system for supplying nutrients to the crops and at least one service module for lifting a selected tray and for moving the selected tray relative to the frame and the other trays along any one of a plurality of preconfigured paths, wherein the service module comprises an internal power source for powering said lifting of the selected tray and moving of the selected tray along a path.

A grow module, a plant growing system, and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The grow module comprises a plurality of tray modules including a light tray over a growing tray. The light tray includes a lighting array and at least one sensor. The growing tray is adapted to hold a plurality of plant vessels. The grow module comprises a machine-readable identification. The grow module is configured to hold the plurality of tray modules in a vertically stacked configuration. The lighting array on the light tray is configured to provide light to the plurality of plant vessels on the growing tray in the grow module directly under the light tray.

A growspace automation system and method. The system includes a grow space with localization structures and a mobile robot. The mobile robot comprises sensors, a mobility mechanism, and a plurality of mobility modules. The mobile robot is configured to automate growspace processes, such as transport, watering, sensing, or cleaning.