A horticultural smudging system and method for improving the growth and/or production of plants. Combustible material is burnt within a thermal container, and the resulting flue gas containing negative ions and carbon dioxide is propelled onto one or more plants. The smudging system and method may use one or more sensors to detect oxygen, air pressure, and flue gas levels within the thermal container to adjust air intake and the release of flue gas.

The power barn system provides a way to eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock. The power barn system seals and traps the methane gas that is emitted from the livestock and converts the methane into electric power and carbon dioxide to enhance plant growth. The power barn system uses PV solar arrays and plastic sheeting to make sealed, airtight structure. The carbon dioxide is provided to greenhouse areas. The plants use the carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thereby eliminating most greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. The power plant uses the methane at peak times at night while solar panels supply power during the day producing zero emission meat and 24/7 electricity at better than market rates.

The power barn system provides a way to eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock. The power barn system seals and traps the methane gas that is emitted from the livestock and converts the methane into electric power and carbon dioxide to enhance plant growth. The power barn system uses PV solar arrays and plastic sheeting to make sealed, airtight structure. The carbon dioxide is provided to greenhouse areas. The plants use the carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thereby eliminating most greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. The power plant uses the methane at peak times at night while solar panels supply power during the day producing zero emission meat and 24/7 electricity at better than market rates.

Vertical growing uses a plurality of shelves to support plants. The system provides nitrogen and light to help grow the plants placed on the shelves. The system also circulates air that is filtered and mixed with the nitrogen before being distributed to the plants. The filters can remove odors from the circulating air.

Vertical growing uses a plurality of shelves to support plants. The system provides nitrogen and light to help grow the plants placed on the shelves. The system also circulates air that is filtered and mixed with the nitrogen before being distributed to the plants. The filters can remove odors from the circulating air.

Disclosed is a plant growing system (100), comprising: a plurality of plant growing zones (122); a control apparatus (120) configured to control one or more environmental conditions in each of the plurality of plant growing zones (122); and a receiver (142) configured to receive input data indicating plant type characteristics of a plurality of plant characteristics types to be grown in a plant growing apparatus (120). Also disclosed is a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types, a method to control a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types, and a computer program including computer-readable instructions executable to perform a method to control a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types.

Disclosed is a plant growing system (100), comprising: a plurality of plant growing zones (122); a control apparatus (120) configured to control one or more environmental conditions in each of the plurality of plant growing zones (122); and a receiver (142) configured to receive input data indicating plant type characteristics of a plurality of plant characteristics types to be grown in a plant growing apparatus (120). Also disclosed is a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types, a method to control a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types, and a computer program including computer-readable instructions executable to perform a method to control a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types.

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for a greenhouse indoor environment controller based on model predictive control (MPC), which can be integrated into existing greenhouse regulatory systems to optimally maintain critical climatic variables, including artificial lighting levels, CO.sub.2, indoor temperature, and humidity levels within acceptable limits. The objectives of the MPC may be to maximize the rate of crop photosynthesis while optimizing the use of the available water and energy resources, taking into account the unpredictability and intermittent nature of renewable energies and external atmospheric conditions. Accordingly, certain embodiments may facilitate the management of greenhouses by anticipating control actions for a better quality of production. For that, mathematical formulations of the optimal control problem may be described, and the numerical results related to the application of the MPC to case studies are described integrating the effects of greenhouse structural considerations and the influence of climate data on its operation.

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for a greenhouse indoor environment controller based on model predictive control (MPC), which can be integrated into existing greenhouse regulatory systems to optimally maintain critical climatic variables, including artificial lighting levels, CO.sub.2, indoor temperature, and humidity levels within acceptable limits. The objectives of the MPC may be to maximize the rate of crop photosynthesis while optimizing the use of the available water and energy resources, taking into account the unpredictability and intermittent nature of renewable energies and external atmospheric conditions. Accordingly, certain embodiments may facilitate the management of greenhouses by anticipating control actions for a better quality of production. For that, mathematical formulations of the optimal control problem may be described, and the numerical results related to the application of the MPC to case studies are described integrating the effects of greenhouse structural considerations and the influence of climate data on its operation.

A flexible growcenter includes a mobile container, a behind-the-meter power input system, a power distribution system, a growcenter control system, a climate control system, a lighting system, and an irrigation system. The growcenter control system modulates power delivery to one or more components of the climate control system, the lighting system, and the irrigation system based on unutilized behind-the-meter power availability or an operational directive. A method of dynamic power delivery to a flexible growcenter using unutilized behind-the-meter power includes monitoring unutilized behind-the-meter power availability, determining when a growcenter ramp-up condition is met, and enabling behind-the-meter power delivery to one or more computing systems when the growcenter ramp-up condition is met.