Loose growing media, such as potting mixes, that support the growth of plants and crops are disclosed. At least a portion of a natural component (e.g., peat, coir) of the potting mix is replaced with a man-made component in the form of a fiberglass material.

Loose growing media, such as potting mixes, that support the growth of plants and crops are disclosed. At least a portion of a natural component (e.g., peat, coir) of the potting mix is replaced with a man-made component in the form of a fiberglass material.

A soil-less biodegradable and porous rigid foam substrate for cultivating plants that has been formed of a heterogeneous matrix of organic fibers pasteurized with organic matter and natural minerals, and then contacted with a fungus, resulting in a biocomposite foam with excellent capillary dynamics, the whole of which does not compact and whose organic bio-composition favors the proper micro-biological activity upon a plants' rhizosphere. The preferred embodiment is to grow said substrate inside a waxed hexagonal prism shaped box, and around an externally accessible means of internal aeration, for approximately 3-5 days, and then to deactivate the live fungus in said biocomposite foam by exposure to microwave radiation.

A horticultural growing medium including a support matrix, the support matrix present in an amount between 60 and 80% by weight and an inorganic component. The organic component includes a moss component including at least 50% by weight moss from the Sphagnum genus is composed of at least 25% hyaline cells; between 30 and 50% by weight plant derived cellulose fiber component including alone or in any combination: coir, bamboo, hemp, cocoa fiber, rice hulls, and mixtures thereof; and between 0 and 15% cork fiber. The inorganic component includes a particulate igneous volcanic material component including at least one of amorphous volcanic glass, volcanic rock. The horticultural growing medium also includes an organic soil constituent present in an amount between 20 and 40% by weight that includes between 30% and 70% by weight humus soil; between 30% and 70% vermicompost; and up to 5% by weight mammalian derived fecal matter.

A horticultural growing medium including a support matrix, the support matrix present in an amount between 60 and 80% by weight and an inorganic component. The organic component includes a moss component including at least 50% by weight moss from the Sphagnum genus is composed of at least 25% hyaline cells; between 30 and 50% by weight plant derived cellulose fiber component including alone or in any combination: coir, bamboo, hemp, cocoa fiber, rice hulls, and mixtures thereof; and between 0 and 15% cork fiber. The inorganic component includes a particulate igneous volcanic material component including at least one of amorphous volcanic glass, volcanic rock. The horticultural growing medium also includes an organic soil constituent present in an amount between 20 and 40% by weight that includes between 30% and 70% by weight humus soil; between 30% and 70% vermicompost; and up to 5% by weight mammalian derived fecal matter.

A soilless growing media is disclosed, wherein the growing media can have regions of increased hydrophobicity imparted by a surface treatment applied to glass fibers in the growing media.

A soilless growing media is disclosed, wherein the growing media can have regions of increased hydrophobicity imparted by a surface treatment applied to glass fibers in the growing media.

Described is a hydroponic system wherein a feed formulation comprising a plant's nutritionally required mineral nutrients is applied to the foliage of the plant and the roots of the plant are in contact with an incomplete water solution that may comprise only hydrogen and oxygen. The feed formulation, methods of feeding a plant or plant seed, and plants produced thereby are also described.

A method for near-natural long-term breeding of economic crops in a wetland by using a returned farmland is provided, including the following steps: S1, selecting site of the returned farmland and restoring landform; S2, performing germplasm improvement treatment of Euryale ferox; S3, controlling sowing of the Euryale ferox seeds; and S4, germplasm improvement and ecological conservation.

A method for near-natural long-term breeding of economic crops in a wetland by using a returned farmland is provided, including the following steps: S1, selecting site of the returned farmland and restoring landform; S2, performing germplasm improvement treatment of Euryale ferox; S3, controlling sowing of the Euryale ferox seeds; and S4, germplasm improvement and ecological conservation.