Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for controlling environmental conditions to control latent and sensible loads in a plant grow chamber. The density of plant-0 receptacles in the grow chamber is such that, when plants are held in the plurality of plant receptacles, evapotranspiration contributes to the latent load so that the latent load exceeds a sensible load, resulting in evapotranspirative cooling. This shift in the energy balance allows for greater energy savings, as compared with conventional indoor farms that focus on removing heat from the growth environment. Environmental conditions may be controlled to achieved desired conditions, such as the optimum ratio of harvest weight yield to energy consumption under given constraints. Light modules for enabling plant growth suitable for controlled environment agriculture are also described.

A system for providing a growth environment for a plant positioned in an automated plant growing system is disclosed. Light sources with each light source positioned in the automated plant growing system to expose the plant to the light sources and to generate light to trigger photosynthesis in the plant. A controller that monitors a growth parameters associated with the plant to determine whether the growth parameters deviate beyond a corresponding growth threshold. Each of the growth parameters provides an indicator as to a growth status of the plant and the growth status of the plant decreases when the growth parameters deviate beyond the corresponding growth threshold. The controller automatically adjusts an environmental parameter when the growth parameters deviate beyond the growth thresholds. Each of the environmental parameters impact the growth environment of the plant positioned in the automated plant growing system.

An upward, vertically extending agricultural gas distribution system is disclosed. The gas distribution system is useable for orchards, plantations, and other permanent or semi permanent crops. The gas delivery system includes a gas supply, a flexible tube, and a rigid tube. The gas supply is adapted to be disposed proximate the bottom of a plant. The flexible tube is connected to the gas supply and has a lumen for communication of gas from the gas supply. The flexible tube is adapted to be oriented vertically along the vertical length of the plant. The rigid tube is connected to the flexible tube and also has a lumen for communication of gas from the flexible tube. The rigid tube has at least one gas emitter for release of gas from the rigid tube lumen to the exterior environment. The rigid tube is adapted to be oriented vertically along the vertical length of the plant, above the flexible tube. Tree couplers, gas wands, gas flow indicators, and gas flow control valves are also disclosed.

An upward, vertically extending agricultural gas distribution system is disclosed. The gas distribution system is useable for orchards, plantations, and other permanent or semi permanent crops. The gas delivery system includes a gas supply, a flexible tube, and a rigid tube. The gas supply is adapted to be disposed proximate the bottom of a plant. The flexible tube is connected to the gas supply and has a lumen for communication of gas from the gas supply. The flexible tube is adapted to be oriented vertically along the vertical length of the plant. The rigid tube is connected to the flexible tube and also has a lumen for communication of gas from the flexible tube. The rigid tube has at least one gas emitter for release of gas from the rigid tube lumen to the exterior environment. The rigid tube is adapted to be oriented vertically along the vertical length of the plant, above the flexible tube. Tree couplers, gas wands, gas flow indicators, and gas flow control valves are also disclosed.

A system for growing a plant (1) in an at least partly conditioned environment includes a cultivation base (11) for receiving a culture substrate (3) with a root system (4) of the plant therein. Root temperature control elements (12) are provided which are able and adapted to impose a predetermined root temperature on the root system, and lighting elements (20,21,22) which are able and adapted to expose leaves of the plant to actinic artificial light. Leaf heating elements are also provided, which are able and adapted to impose on the leaf of the plant a leaf temperature varying from an ambient temperature. In a method for growing the plant a carbon dioxide assimilation management of a leaf system of the plant is thus influenced, and a supply of actinic light, the root temperature and the carbon dioxide assimilation management are adapted to each other.

A system for growing a plant (1) in an at least partly conditioned environment includes a cultivation base (11) for receiving a culture substrate (3) with a root system (4) of the plant therein. Root temperature control elements (12) are provided which are able and adapted to impose a predetermined root temperature on the root system, and lighting elements (20,21,22) which are able and adapted to expose leaves of the plant to actinic artificial light. Leaf heating elements are also provided, which are able and adapted to impose on the leaf of the plant a leaf temperature varying from an ambient temperature. In a method for growing the plant a carbon dioxide assimilation management of a leaf system of the plant is thus influenced, and a supply of actinic light, the root temperature and the carbon dioxide assimilation management are adapted to each other.

A computer implemented system for a vertical farming system comprising at least a first crop growth module and operating in an environmentally-controlled growing chamber, the control system comprising sensors for measuring environmental growing conditions in the environmentally-controlled growing chamber over time to generate environmental condition data, a device configured for measuring a crop characteristic of a crop grown in the crop growth module of the environmentally-controlled growing chamber to generate crop growth data and a processing device comprising software modules for receiving the environmental condition data and the crop growth data; applying an algorithm to the environmental condition data and the crop growth data to generate an improved environmental growing condition and generating instructions for adjustment of the environmental growing conditions in or around the growth module in the environmentally-controlled growing chamber to the improved environmental growing condition.

A computer implemented system for a vertical farming system comprising at least a first crop growth module and operating in an environmentally-controlled growing chamber, the control system comprising sensors for measuring environmental growing conditions in the environmentally-controlled growing chamber over time to generate environmental condition data, a device configured for measuring a crop characteristic of a crop grown in the crop growth module of the environmentally-controlled growing chamber to generate crop growth data and a processing device comprising software modules for receiving the environmental condition data and the crop growth data; applying an algorithm to the environmental condition data and the crop growth data to generate an improved environmental growing condition and generating instructions for adjustment of the environmental growing conditions in or around the growth module in the environmentally-controlled growing chamber to the improved environmental growing condition.

A bioreactor includes a bioreactor container, and a root stand. The container has a base and one or more sidewalls connected to the base, the base and sidewalls together defining an interior bioreactor volume. The root stand is supported by the container within the bioreactor volume, and includes a first support comb and a second support comb, each support comb having a plurality of spaced apart teeth. The teeth of the first support comb extend in length in a first direction and the teeth of the second support comb extend in length in a second direction different from the first direction. The first support comb overlaying the second support comb when the root stand is supported in the container, and the first support comb being separable from the second support comb when the root stand is removed from the container. A gravity well and atmosphere control container are also disclosed.

A system includes: a thermo-hygrostat provided in a room of a closed plant factory; a CO2 supply device supplying CO2 to the room; an outdoor air damper controlling a flow rate of an outdoor air introduced into the room; an exhaust damper controlling a flow rate of an indoor air discharged from the room; an air supply fan blowing the outdoor air introduced into the outdoor air damper; an exhaust fan blowing the indoor air discharged through the exhaust damper; an inducing fan provided on a ceiling of the room; an outdoor air sensor unit including an outdoor air temperature sensor, an outdoor air humidity sensor and an outdoor air CO2 sensor; an indoor sensor unit including an indoor temperature sensor, an indoor humidity sensor and an indoor CO2 sensor; a human body detection sensor; and a control unit.