A vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus for allowing vertical hydroponic greenhouse crop production is provided. The apparatus comprises a hollow grow tube having a front face, a back face, an open first end, and an open second end. A slot is formed in the front face of the grow tube with the slot having a width equal to only a portion of a width of the front face. A media material is insertable into the grow tube. The slot allows the front face to expand outward during insertion of the media material and biased inward against the media material once the media material is inserted. The grow tube is positionable in either a horizontal position, vertical position, or any position between the horizontal position and the vertical position allowing inclined, multi-angled crop production and multi-storied conveyor style crop production.

A fertilizer gradient energy system includes a membrane module. A membrane module may include a first section and a second section. The first and second sections may be separated by a semipermeable membrane. A load may be connected to the membrane module. The first section may be configured to receive a concentrated fertilizer solution. The second section may be configured to receive a freshwater feed solution. In embodiments, a semipermeable membrane may be configured to facilitate pressure retarded osmosis of the freshwater feed solution from the first section to the second section to increase a fluid pressure in the second section. The semipermeable membrane may include an anion exchange membrane. The membrane module may include a third section. A cation exchange membrane may separate the first and third section. Anion and cation exchange membranes may facilitate reverse electrodialysis. Methods of capturing energy via a membrane module are also disclosed.

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices related to the study of ecological processes. In one aspect, a device includes a base, a substrate, and an enclosure. The substrate is in contact with a first surface of the base. The substrate and the base define a root chamber. The enclosure is in contact with a second surface of the base. The base and the enclosure define a growth chamber. The base defines a stem port connecting the root chamber and the growth chamber. The base further defines a first port in fluid communication with the root chamber and a second port in fluid communication with the root chamber. The device is operable to contain a plant, roots of the plant being in the root chamber, a stem of the plant passing through the stem port, and leaves of the plant being in the growth chamber.

Endophytic microbial strains as biocatalysts isolated from fresh plant samples, their compositions, and methods of use thereof to enhance the growth and/or yield of a plant in the presence of reduced (synthetic or otherwise) nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are provided. The selected endophytic microbial strains serve as biocatalysts to solubilize organic (proteinaceous) nitrogen otherwise unavailable to plants for their nutritional needs. In addition, selected endophytic microbial strains serve as biocatalysts to solubilize mineral-P and mineralize organic-P otherwise unavailable to plants for their nutritional phosphate needs. Thus defined, biocatalysts will serve to replace or reduce the requirement of (synthetic or otherwise) nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. Also provided are materials and methods for inoculating plants with these biocatalysts at carefully selected inoculum densities to reliably reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers by 30-50% thus accomplishing optimal yields in a cost-effective manner.

The present invention is enclosed in the area of raised beds. It is therefore an object of the present invention a modular structure (1) for a raised bed characterised in that it comprises at least one lower container (3), at least one upper container (2), and means for supplying water (4) to the at least one upper container, wherein: each upper container is suitable for planting or composting, is perforated (22) and is arranged over a lower container, such that at least one upper container is provided on and covers a top opening (31) of the lower container (3) and thereby a liquid within the at least one upper container drips (5) to such lower container by action of gravity, each lower container is configured to store water, and the means for supplying water are configured to bring water from a lower container on to each upper container. Such structure therefore provides for an autonomous system, which maintains unused water and nutrients, which are transported with the water, within the system.

A nitrogen stabilizing composition is provided. The composition includes 6% to 18% N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), 1% to 6% 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP), and a solvent, wherein the ratio of NBPT to DMPP is between about 5.5:1 and 6.5:1.

A plant growth system for a microgravity environment includes a root chamber configured to prevent liquid from escaping from the root chamber in the microgravity environment and to enable recovery of liquid from within the root chamber. In some embodiments, the root chamber may be configured to provide water and/or nutrients to the plants, via ebb/flow and/or spray delivery. In some embodiments, the root chamber includes a main body and a root/shoot interface coupled to the main body. The root/shoot interface can be configured to hold a plant having a root system extending outward from one side of the root/shoot interface into the root chamber and a chute system extending outward from another side of the root/shoot interface outside of the root chamber. The root/shoot interface may be configured to provide water and/or nutrients to the plants.

A method for detecting stressed plants in an indoor farm includes the steps of receiving two consecutively taken images of a plantation area in the indoor farm captured consecutively at a predetermined interval. The two images are combined to form a composite image. To the composite image is applied an object detection network to segment the composite image into images of single plants. Pre-trained convolution neuronal networks can be applied to the images of single plants classifying the single plants as healthy or stressed.

Disclosed is a system and method for a smart hydroponic system. The system includes a central controller and one or more smart hydroponic system modules. The smart hydroponic system modules automate a number of tasks required to maintain hydroponic agriculture. Further, these tasks are localized to provide greater precision to the agriculture, as even indoor environments can vary. The central controller sends commands which affect every smart hydroponic system module. This provides an efficient mix of central and local control.

A wireless powered solid state thermoelectric operated, multi staged, multi interfaced, soilless plant growth system consisting of a plurality of plates defining a plurality of orifices, channels, and chambers formed by connecting a series of engraved plates within the body of the plant growing device. Consisting of a computer controller, sensors, LED, pumps, and fan(s).