A new protective polymeric sheet is described wherein said polymeric sheet includes perforations and attached spacers that allow air and water circulation when the sheet is in use. The sheet protects underlying structures from damage while ensuring moisture migration between the protective polymeric sheet and the underlying structure. The protective polymeric sheet comprises a plurality of perforations extending through the sheet and a plurality of spacers, each spacer extending from a lower surface of the sheet adjacent to one side of each perforation. The spacers are created during perforation of the polymeric sheet. The protective polymeric sheet is useful in a number of applications, including without limitation: to protect pipelines; to replace geotextiles in heap leach processes; to line sandboxes and paving stones; to cover greenhouse floors; to make industrial or residential gutter caps; and as a filter.

Methods, systems and apparatuses for applying a sheet of film material to the ground by utilizing first and second double disk openers to create first and second grooves in the ground and inserting the sheet into the grooves by use of a pair of press wheels which travel behind the disk openers and force the sheet into the grooves. Use of the disk openers accommodates a method of applying the sheet to planted seeds in non-tilled, frozen and/or near frozen soil conditions for increased crop yields.

A resin composition contains: (A) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene structural unit content of 20 to 60 mol %; (B) a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene structural unit content of not less than 70 mol %; and (C) a sorbic acid ester; wherein the sorbic acid ester (C) is present in an amount of 0.00001 to 10 ppm based on the weight of the resin composition. The resin composition is resistant to coloration.

A greenhouse screen comprising strips of film material that are interconnected by a yarn system of transverse threads and longitudinal threads by means of a knitting, warp-knitting or weaving process to form a continuous product is provided. At least some of the strips comprise a polyester film having a transparency of at least 93%, said polyester film having at least one base layer B comprising a thermoplastic polyester and a UV stabilizer. The polyester film has a first and a second surface, wherein a permanent anti-fog coating is applied to at least one of the first or second surfaces of the polyester film. The anti-fog coating has a lower refractive index than the base layer B.A process for producing said film is also disclosed.

A method for promoting germination of underground buds and growth of new-born root systems of ratoon sugarcane is to cut stubbles based on a depth survey of the stubbles of the ratoon sugarcane, particularly including steps of: for a ratoon sugarcane field after mechanical harvesting, cutting the stubbles with a sugarcane stubble cutting machine, and remaining underground stubbles of 5-7 cm after cutting; for a ratoon sugarcane field with manual harvesting, cutting the sugarcane with a hoe, and remaining underground stubbles of 10-12 cm after cutting, so as to realize sugarcane cutting and stubble cutting in one step; thereafter, applying fertilizers and pesticides, and hilling up, wherein the underground buds of the stubbles are controlled to be distributed 10-15 cm below ground after hilling up; and finally conducting whole film mulching. The present invention is advanced and practical, and easily used and promoted.

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 process for preparing a polymeric membrane for soil materials used in crop production comprising providing an aqueous dispersion of polyurethane and spraying the aqueous dispersion onto soil materials to be used in crop production to form a polymeric membrane.

A horticultural apparatus is provided for managing soil conditions. The horticultural apparatus includes a nonporous and translucent polymeric sheet forming a two-dimensional array of basins defining an upper plane and a lower plane. Each basin has a rim in the upper plane, a base in the lower plane, sidewalls that slope inwardly from the rim to the base, and a hole in the base. The polymeric sheet connects the rim of each basin to the rims of each adjacent basin to form a continuous canopy between the basins. The continuous canopy preferably prevents air convection through the polymeric sheet when the hole in each basin is pressed against the soil. Embodiments of the horticultural apparatus may be used to warm the soil, control weed growth, control water run-off and extend the life of an organic mulch.

A method for tapping a yield potential of Saccharum officinarum by controlling a time of plastic mulching is provided. The method includes: (1) plastic mulching: mulching a Saccharum officinarum furrow in a Saccharum officinarum field fully with a wide plastic film in a direction parallel to the Saccharum officinarum furrow, and covering the plastic film directly above the Saccharum officinarum furrow with soil with a certain thickness along the Saccharum officinarum furrow, such that the plastic film is tightly attached to soil in the Saccharum officinarum furrow; (2) control of the time of plastic mulching, and (3) plastic film recycling treatment. The method of the present disclosure is advanced, practical, easy to operate, and easy to promote.