Apparatus and methods for monitoring the emergence of soil pests in a two plant system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an emergence cage covers at least a portion of the root system of two plants. The emergence cage includes a frame defining a perimeter, a mesh or screen covering attached to the frame, a first plant opening configured to receive the first plant, a second plant opening configured to receive the second plant, and a collection container for collecting the pest of interest. The pests emerging from the ground under the cage are collected in the collection container, and the number collected is periodically determined.

Apparatus and methods for monitoring the emergence of soil pests in a two plant system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an emergence cage covers at least a portion of the root system of two plants. The emergence cage includes a frame defining a perimeter, a mesh or screen covering attached to the frame, a first plant opening configured to receive the first plant, a second plant opening configured to receive the second plant, and a collection container for collecting the pest of interest. The pests emerging from the ground under the cage are collected in the collection container, and the number collected is periodically determined.

A water-saving device comprising a hollow frusto-conical housing having a wide lower end adapted to overlie a ground surface and a narrow upper end. A flexible tarp is integrally connected around the circumference of the narrow upper end of the housing, and a draw string is integrally attached around the circumference of a upper end of the flexible tarp. The draw string is pulled taught to reduce the circumference of the upper end of the flexible tarp and enclose the tarp around the tree trunk.

A water-saving device comprising a hollow frusto-conical housing having a wide lower end adapted to overlie a ground surface and a narrow upper end. A flexible tarp is integrally connected around the circumference of the narrow upper end of the housing, and a draw string is integrally attached around the circumference of a upper end of the flexible tarp. The draw string is pulled taught to reduce the circumference of the upper end of the flexible tarp and enclose the tarp around the tree trunk.

A plant cover apparatus includes a bag having an interior encompassed by a wall that extends from a top end of the bag and tapers inwardly to a bottom end of the bag. The bottom end includes a rim that laterally circumscribes a plant-receiving opening formed through the bag. The bag has a slot that extends vertically from the opening through the wall. The slot includes opposed margins having cooperatively interlocking parts that can temporarily be joined and separated to increase the size of the opening. The bag may be vertically suspended from a support member positioned next to the plant. An exterior perimeter of the bag may be rigid enough to help the bag maintain its shape when suspended.

Use of a composition as a barrier to molluscs is disclosed. The composition comprises a combustion product or an alkaline material and is in granular form. The granular composition may be effective and long-acting in such a use due to improved weather resistance compared to loose combustion product or alkaline material. A method of producing such a granular composition comprising a combustion product or an alkaline material and a barrier method preventing access to plants by molluscs with said granular composition comprising a combustion product or an alkaline material are also disclosed. A granular composition comprising at least 98 wt % of a combustion product or an alkaline material, wherein at least 98% of the granules have a size of from 0.5 to 10.0 mm is also disclosed.

One variation of a method for interpreting pressures in plants includes: accessing a first image of a first set of sentinel plants in a field; accessing a second image of a second set of sentinel plants in the field, recorded during a first period; interpreting a first pressure of a stressor in the first set based on features extracted from the first image, captured during the first period; interpreting a second pressure in the second set based on features extracted from the second image; deriving a model associating pressure at the first set and pressure at the second set based on the first pressure and the second pressure; interpreting a third pressure in the first set based on features extracted from a third image captured during a second period; and predicting a fourth pressure in the second set during the second period based on the third pressure and the model.

One variation of a method for interpreting pressures in plants includes: accessing a first image of a first set of sentinel plants in a field; accessing a second image of a second set of sentinel plants in the field, recorded during a first period; interpreting a first pressure of a stressor in the first set based on features extracted from the first image, captured during the first period; interpreting a second pressure in the second set based on features extracted from the second image; deriving a model associating pressure at the first set and pressure at the second set based on the first pressure and the second pressure; interpreting a third pressure in the first set based on features extracted from a third image captured during a second period; and predicting a fourth pressure in the second set during the second period based on the third pressure and the model.

One variation of a method for interpreting pressures in plants includes: accessing a first image of a first set of sentinel plants in a field; accessing a second image of a second set of sentinel plants in the field, recorded during a first period; interpreting a first pressure of a stressor in the first set based on features extracted from the first image, captured during the first period; interpreting a second pressure in the second set based on features extracted from the second image; deriving a model associating pressure at the first set and pressure at the second set based on the first pressure and the second pressure; interpreting a third pressure in the first set based on features extracted from a third image captured during a second period; and predicting a fourth pressure in the second set during the second period based on the third pressure and the model.

One variation of a method for interpreting pressures in plants includes: accessing a first image of a first set of sentinel plants in a field; accessing a second image of a second set of sentinel plants in the field, recorded during a first period; interpreting a first pressure of a stressor in the first set based on features extracted from the first image, captured during the first period; interpreting a second pressure in the second set based on features extracted from the second image; deriving a model associating pressure at the first set and pressure at the second set based on the first pressure and the second pressure; interpreting a third pressure in the first set based on features extracted from a third image captured during a second period; and predicting a fourth pressure in the second set during the second period based on the third pressure and the model.