Systems and techniques for a sensor carrier, and intelligent track infrastructure for the navigation and operation of the sensor carrier are described. The sensor carrier is an autonomous robot navigating a track. The carrier holds cameras and other sensors to receive horticultural images and telemetry for plants in a grow operation. The carrier reads embedded signals in the track including Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) tags, embedded positioning magnets, and drilled hole patterns for a beam breaking system to determine navigation and operation. For tracks placed at sharp angles, a transfer station with wall guards to prevent the carrier from falling enable safe transfers from different track segments. Additional features include an emergency stop (e-stop) switch and power management for autonomous sensor carriers.

Methods for fumigating soil include applying over fumigant-treated soil a multilayer polymeric film to form a vapor barrier between the fumigant-treated soil and the atmosphere to at least partially contain the fumigant. The multilayer film includes at least one barrier layer comprising at least one vinylidene chloride polymer and protecting layers on each side of the barrier layer. The multilayer film preferably has at least one UV protecting layer and optionally at least one reflective layer.

This invention relates to a polymeric composition suitable for greenhouse film applications, and greenhouse films made therefrom. The polymeric composition suitable for greenhouse film applications according to the present invention comprises a) 50 to 99 percent by weight of a continuous polymeric phase comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin, a polyolefin copolymer, an ethylene propylene copolymer with an acrylic ester, an ethylene or propylene copolymer with a vinyl acetate, and combinations thereof; and b) 1 to 50 percent by weight of polymeric particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 10 μm; a refractive index from 1.474 to 1.545; an average particle hardness from 1.2367E+10 N/m.sup.2 to 8.4617E+10 N/m.sup.2; and at least 60% polymerized acrylic monomer units.

In the soil cultivation system equipped with a solar panel, the space between ridges of a plurality of frame units supporting the solar panels is coupled with a roof member, furthermore, the perimeter surface thereof is integrally covered with a cover unit. In this way, a cultivation house in which the frame units are used as support columns is established. Then, in the solar panels, light transmitting regions are provided, a transmissive member is used as the roof member and thus agricultural plants are cultivated by light passing through the light transmitting regions and the roof member. Furthermore, the cultivation of the agricultural plants is performed in cultivation tanks in which a soil is put, and an appropriate cultivation nutrient solution is supplied through a supply means. In this way, the cultivation environment of the agricultural plants is managed, and thus the agricultural plants can be efficiently cultivated while the burden of an operator is reduced.

In the soil cultivation system equipped with a solar panel, the space between ridges of a plurality of frame units supporting the solar panels is coupled with a roof member, furthermore, the perimeter surface thereof is integrally covered with a cover unit. In this way, a cultivation house in which the frame units are used as support columns is established. Then, in the solar panels, light transmitting regions are provided, a transmissive member is used as the roof member and thus agricultural plants are cultivated by light passing through the light transmitting regions and the roof member. Furthermore, the cultivation of the agricultural plants is performed in cultivation tanks in which a soil is put, and an appropriate cultivation nutrient solution is supplied through a supply means. In this way, the cultivation environment of the agricultural plants is managed, and thus the agricultural plants can be efficiently cultivated while the burden of an operator is reduced.

The present invention provides a method for prefabricating, transporting, and rapidly assembling a portable, rigid, dome-shaped structure, with the structural integrity to enable the suspension of extensive hardware and supplies. Said structure would be shaped for acoustic purposes, extremely durable, and allow for extensive climate control. Said structure would be able to be fabricated in a wide range of sizes and shipped to remote locations.

The present invention relates to a film for use in plasticulture that comprises at least a first layer of a thermoplastic polymer composition, said thermoplastic polymer composition comprising a linear low-density polyethylene having a melt index (MI) measured according to ASTM D1238 at a temperature of 190° C. and a load of 2.16 kg of higher than 1.0 g/10 min and at most 10.0 g/10 min, whereby the film has an RMS roughness measured by AFM according to point 4.2.2 of ISO 4287:1997 of lower than 40 nm, and/or an average roughness measured by AFM according to point 4.2.1 of ISO 4287:1997 of lower than 30 nm.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a film for an agricultural greenhouse that can maintain a CO.sub.2 concentration necessary for the photosynthesis of plants even when ventilation is not performed and to provide an agricultural greenhouse using the film. The film for an agricultural greenhouse of the present invention is a cellulose film which contains a cellulose acylate resin and has an equilibrium moisture content of 4% to 8% at a temperature of 25° C., a relative humidity of 80% and a thickness of 60 to 200 μm.

A raised bed garden and sandbox system comprised of rails and connectors, where the rails are connected to each other via a hinge-like system and joined by the insertion of tubular connectors that are circular in cross-section and open at one end to allow the insertion of a framework for a cover. A structure to support a cover is described, consisting of multiple cross-members, where one end of each cross-member is inserted into a connector and the other end of the cross-member is inserted into the opposite connector. An alternative design for a structure to support a cover is described, where for each cross-member one end is inserted into a connector and the other end is inserted into a central hub. A pattern is described to ensure that the raised bed garden or sandbox is arranged into a regular polygon. A heating element consisting of an electrical resistor arranged in a plane is described, as well as an planar insulator sized to fit the raised bed garden. An improvement in the design of a blow-molded rail provides higher quality and shorter cycle time by forming a partial bushing in the male end of the rail instead of a full bushing.

The present disclosure provides using stratification of air to reduce the amount of air in a greenhouse to manage and a conditioning chamber to precondition air prior to the air having contact with plants. A light deprivation chamber is provided with a centerline vent and operable louvres to recycle warm air and to be able to reduce the area of the building to heat by closing the light deprivation cover to create a smaller chamber to heat and recycle to conserve heat and take advantage of the heat from grow lights. The present disclosure further provides being able to cycle warm air from an upper air sink chamber back into the an air intake/conditioning chamber to conserve energy and using air tube fans to deliver quality conditioned air from a conditioning chamber to all the plants.