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.

One variation of a method for automatically redistributing plants throughout an agricultural facility includes, at a mobile robotic system: delivering a first moduledefining a first array of plant slots at a first density and loaded with a first set of plants in approximately a second growth stagefrom a grow area within a facility to a transfer station within the facility; delivering a second modulelocated within the facility and defining a second array of plant slots at a second density less than the first densityto the transfer station; and following transfer of a first subset of plants from the first array of plant slots in the first module into the second array of plant slots in the second module at the transfer station, delivering the second module to the grow area in the facility.

This invention belongs to a seedling separating device based on a rack and pinion drive in the field of transplanting machine in the agricultural automation facility, including a rack, a power unit, a linear drive, a number of seedling cups and a cylinder pushing device. The linear actuator is driven by the power unit to move on the frame; these seedling cups are mounted on the linear drive; the cylinder pushing device is mounted on the frame and is located behind the seedling cups and it drives the lower part of the seedling cup to open and retracts to close. The seedling device has simple structure, controllable program and high reliability. The motor drives the seedlings cups to move left and right; the cylinder pushes the cups to be opened and closed; the trust cup is straight down, the seedling attitude is better and the location of seedling can also be adjusted. The device can not only achieve the exact location in the designated seedling, but also to achieve the seedling movement of separating seedlings to two points from the mouth of the seedling cups.

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 system for the fertigation of a plant vessel and method of use for the same is disclosed. The system comprises a grow module containing a plurality of growing trays additionally containing plants, and/or shoots of plants in various stages of development. The growing trays are individually extracted from the grow module via a tray movement system and tray elevator controlled by a control system and precisely placed in a fertigation system, wherein they are aligned over and lowered onto an at least one nozzle which penetrate the plant vessels containing the plants and fertigate them with a combination of water, nutrients, and/or pressurized air. The individual growing tray is then replaced in the grow module and the process is repeated for all growing trays and plant vessels in the grow module.

A plant propagation system is provided that includes a holder for holding at least two plants in relative spaced apart relation to enable a predetermined operation (such as, for example, a cutting operation) to be performed on each of the plants within the holder during a single pass.

There is provided a seedbed holding unit capable of reliably and firmly holding a seedbed with a simple structure, causing no damage to a plant. A seedbed holding unit 160 that holds a seedbed B used in plant cultivation includes a first holding member 170 and a second holding member 180 that are rotatable relative to each other about a predetermined rotation axis A, the first holding member 170 is provided with a first claw part 173 in a fixed state, the second holding member 180 is provided with a second claw part 183 in a fixed state, and the seedbed B is held between the first claw part 173 and the second claw part 183 by rotating the first holding member 170 and the second holding member 180 relative to each other.

Modular systems for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment may include at least one tank configured to hold liquid. A modular drive assembly may be carried by the at least one tank. At least one propagation module may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the modular drive assembly. The at least one propagation module may be configured to support and propagate at least one plant. At least one pump may be disposed in fluid communication with the at least one tank. The at least one pump configured to pump the liquid from the at least one tank through the at least one propagation module. Modular methods for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment are also disclosed.

Plant tray comprising a series of columns and/or sets of columns of plant pockets, wherein at least two of said columns and/or sets of columns are movably connected to each other, such that they can move relative to each other between at least a first position in which they are relatively close to each other, preferably abutting, and a second position, in which they are spaced apart further than in the first position.

A device for robotic transfer of a plantlet from a plantlet holder is provided, the device comprising an opener for opening of the plantlet holder wherein the opener comprises an actuator component for connection to a robotic tool head. Related systems, kits, and methods are further provided.