Abstract: Resilient plant development media are disclosed that can include a first layer that includes a plurality of adjacent strands, a second layer that includes a plurality of strands that are adjacent and that is in stacked relation relative to the first layer, wherein the strands of the first layer and the strands of the second layer are in a non-aligned orientation relative to each other. The strands in the first layer and the strands in the second layer may define a crisscross pattern. The multilayer resilient media is effective in supporting seeds during germination and plants throughout their growth and development. The multilayer resilient media is effective for use in various plant growing modalities, e.g., aeroponic, nutrient film, and hydroponic plant growing environments, and may be easily cleaned for reuse.

A cultivation method based on an optimization of a plant nitrogen fertilizer disclosure amount includes: selecting plants to be planted in this batch, recording a number of the plants planted this time, and preparing different parts of nitrogen fertilizer for individual plants, each part of the nitrogen fertilizer being 10 g; and planting the same batch of plants every Monday with an interval of one week and fertilizing the planted plants in the second week after planting. According to the cultivation method based on the optimization of the plant nitrogen fertilizer disclosure amount, by adopting a mode of more tests and less planting, consumed plant seedlings are correspondingly reduced when a worker calculates an optimal fertilizer disclosure amount, thus effectively avoiding excessive waste, making a cost of a subsequent use cheaper, bringing a help to a whole experiment, and enabling people to use the method more conveniently.

An aquaponic greenhouse is described comprising at least one hydroponic planter, at least one aquatic tank configured to support aquatic life, an irrigation system linking the at least one hydroponic planter and said at least one aquatic tank; a biofilter configured to process waste from the aquatic life to be used to provide nutrients to plants in the at least one hydroponic planter, a geothermal heat exchange system; and a hydronic radiant flooring system.

Compositions for controlled release of active ingredients and methods of making same are generally provided. In some embodiments, the composition comprises an active ingredient and a delivery material. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a volatile or gaseous active ingredient useful for applications in at least one of agriculture, pest control, odor control, and food preservation. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a cyclopropene. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is an essential oil, a terpene, or a terpenoid. In some embodiments, the delivery material is a carbon material or a silicate material.

A Vertical-Hive Green Box (or V-Hive Green Box) is a modular cultivation system utilized in a modular Vertical Farm or Plant Factory, as well as a warehouse-type or greenhouse-type of vertical farm or plant factory. The V-Hive Green Box includes growing boards, lighting boards, and an irrigation system arranged within a frame structure to maximize the quantity of crops that can be grown within an available volume of space in a modular Vertical Farm unit, warehouse or greenhouse per unit time. The V-Hive Green Box can also include aquaculture boards that can be used for aquaculture of aquatic fish and plants.

Water purification particles have porous particles and photocatalyst particles formed of titanium-based compound particles that are supported on the porous particles, have absorption at a wavelength of 500 nm in a visible absorption spectrum, and have an absorption peak at 2,700 cm.sup.−1 to 3,000 cm.sup.−1 in an infrared absorption spectrum, and a metal compound having a metal atom and a hydrocarbon group is bonded to the surface of each of the titanium-based compound particles through an oxygen atom.

Various embodiments include a container for hydroponically growing plants. The container has a bottom surface and an open top surface and a fluid reservoir having at least a portion of the volume between the bottom surface and the top surface. A pump is positioned at a bottom portion of the fluid reservoir. A length of tubing connects the pump to a valve that is further connected to additional tubing. A plurality of jets are connected to the additional tubing to spray fluid internal to the fluid reservoir. Further, there is a support structure, configured to fit into the open top surface, that has support components for interconnecting a plurality of openings and supporting the plurality of jets. Finally, a cover plate is configured to fit over the support structure in the open top surface.

A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.

Systems and methods for managing spreading of particulate material over a surface by a spreader. One step of the method includes receiving a selection of a type of the spreader. An additional step includes receiving a selection of a type of the particulate material to be spread by the spreader. An additional step includes obtaining data indicative of a travel speed of the spreader, with the data being received from a sensor associated with the spreader. An additional step includes determining an operational attribute of the spreader. The determination is based on (i) the type of the spreader, (ii) the type of the particulate material, and (ii) the travel speed of the spreader. A further step includes presenting the operational attribute.