Fabrics suitable for a wide variety of uses, including coverage of crops, crop planting sites, or both, are disclosed. The fabrics may comprise at least one spunbond layer comprising filaments including a filler. The at least one spunbond layer may comprise a basis weight of least about 12 grams-per-meter-squared and the at least one spunbond layer may comprise an average transmittance value within the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) across wavelengths 400 nm to 700 nm comprising about 37% or less. Methods of enhancing crop growth are also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for cultivating vegetation at an arid location includes rooting immature vegetation in a mat combined with a super absorbent polymer (SAP) and, in embodiments, fertilizer, sand, and/or soil; placing the mat at the arid location; covering the mat with a perforated, transparent or semi-transparent cover; collecting urine in a water purification system; and providing purified water extracted from the urine to the mat. A water barrier can be placed below the mat. The cover can be placed on or suspended above the mat. SAP, seeds, and/or additional water barriers can be placed between mats in a stack. The opacity of the cover can be increased to emulate shade from natural vegetation. A water distribution system can be included for continued support of the vegetation, and can include a water reservoir and/or at least one solar still.

The invention involves a system and method for plant agriculture. The system includes a sheet of barrier material upon which soil is placed. A drip tube is placed in the soil so that the soil can be shaped, and the sheet material is folded over the top of the soil so that the edges of the sheet overlap. A seal, which may be soil, is placed on the overlapping edges of the sheet to hold the sheet material in a closed position. The crop is planted through the sheet material, and growth occurs through the aperture created during planting.

A fixed irrigation landscape growing system comprises: a supporting substrate; a water absorbent blanket arranged above the substrate; and a growing medium, notably a soil layer, arranged above the water absorbent blanket. Irrigation is provided by irrigation pipes or by sprinklers.

One embodiment provides a modular green roof tray, house plant growth media and horticulture growth media, and a tree protection mat for weed and moisture control made from recycled disposable diapers. The growth medium and tree protection mat contain superabsorbent materials from diaper that can absorb waters and greatly reduce irrigation so to provide a drought resistant feature. One embodiment also provides a manufacturing process to perform 100% recycling of disposed diapers.

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of turf reinforcement mats that include spun yarns and/or multifilament yarns in either or both of the warp and weft directions.

Fabrics suitable for a wide variety of uses, including coverage of crops, crop planting sites, or both, are disclosed. The fabrics may comprise at least one spunbond layer comprising filaments including a filler. The at least one spunbond layer may comprise a basis weight of least about 12 grams-per-meter-squared and the at least one spunbond layer may comprise an average transmittance value within the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) across wavelengths 400 nm to 700 nm comprising about 37% or less. Methods of enhancing crop growth are also disclosed.

Described is a reflective ground cover sheet material (1) in which longitudinally extending opposite side margins (A) of the sheet material are stronger than a longitudinally extending center section between the side margins of the material. Also described is a reflective ground cover sheet material (1) having longitudinally extending opposite side margins (A) of the sheet material of lower porosity than a longitudinally extending center section between the side margins of the material.

A plastic netting in the form of a raschel netting (2) for the cultivation and harvest of onions. The plastic netting has a plurality of pillar stitches (1) extending mutually in parallel in the longitudinal direction. These pillar stitches are transversely interlinked by traversing weft threads (4). Each pillar stitch (1) being formed by at least two threads (2, 3).

A plant edging is disclosed herein that has an inner side and an outer side and includes a sidewall having a top end and a bottom end with the bottom end configured to engage soil, a head connected to the top end of the sidewall, and a rib connected to and extending away from the outer side near the bottom end of the sidewall. The plant edging is arranged to substantially seal an opening in a landscaping barrier film, and to define a partial enclosure that inhibits ingrowth of invasive weeds.