A method and system for managing bearing plants so that their in-ground portions (e.g., root-zones) are clustered together to improve water-use effectiveness; and training their above-ground structures such that their above-ground structures have the wider spacing they require. It is applicable to plants (e.g., vine-like plants including wine grapes) whose trunks can be oriented at an angle other than vertical or which can be otherwise shaped so that their distal ends are not centered above their in-ground portions but rather are horizontally offset from the in-ground portions.

An electrochemical cell has an active alloy anode including an active alloy and a passive alloy cathode including a passive alloy with the active alloy having a higher reduction potential than the passive alloy within growth media. The active alloy anode and the passive alloy cathode are positioned to drive a plurality of transport ions into a plant in some embodiments to enhance plant growth and to kill weeds in other embodiments.

A trellis and DOV grape growing system utilized for grape vines, featuring an overhead training wire system that allows for the positioning of canes in a multi-quadrant arrangement. The canes are supported by posts positioned along adjacent rows of vines. The system includes a network of training wires which allow the canes to be directed in multi-axial directions from each vine. The trellis system allows the grapes to desiccate under solar warmth while on the vine, thus forming raisins. The DOV grapes may then be efficiently harvested by a vehicle having a canopy-shaking apparatus passing under the trellis canopy.

A method and system for managing bearing plants so that their in-ground portions (e.g., root-zones) are clustered together to improve water-use effectiveness; and training their above-ground structures such that their above-ground structures have the wider spacing they require. It is applicable to plants (e.g., vine-like plants including wine grapes) whose trunks can be oriented at an angle other than vertical or which can be otherwise shaped so that their distal ends are not centered above their in-ground portions but rather are horizontally offset from the in-ground portions.

A device and method for introducing new vegetation into a forest floor includes seeds, seedlings, and/or saplings carried within a plurality of tapered shells having polygonal cross sections, possibly mixed with soil, sand, gravel, fertilizer, SAP granules, and/or water. The tapered shells are inserted into the ground through the hydrophobic layer by dropping or propelling them from an aircraft, or manually pressing on them. One or more holes proximate the bottoms of the tapered shells enable rain water and germinating roots to penetrate into soil beneath the hydrophobic layer. A perforated lid can prevent the seeds or seedlings from being ejected upon impact with the forest floor. A weighted tip can improve penetration of the tapered shells into the forest floor. A plurality of tapered shells can extend downward from a tray or frame. The tapered shell and/or perforated lid can be made from biodegradable materials.

A free-space optical communication apparatus control apparatus includes: a detecting section for detecting an impediment to laser communication of a free-space optical communication apparatus; and a judging section for judging, in accordance with the state of the impediment to the laser communication, whether pruning of a tree is necessary.

The density of coconut palms in a grove, and the resulting coconut yield per acre, is increased up to a factor of four by varying the heights of the leaf balls of the palms, and arranging the palms close together so that the leaf balls overlap without mutual interference. Adjacent palms can be of different varieties having differing heights, for example by combining tall, dwarf, and hybrid palms, and/or the grades at which adjacent palms are planted can be excavated and/or built up. The palms can be configured in a checkerboard arrangement where leaf ball heights alternate in aligned rows and columns, or in a hexagonal arrangement where rows of palms of alternating leaf ball height are staggered. Palm rows of uniform or staggered height can be planted on north-south terraces at successively higher grade up to an apex terrace, from which the terraces descend again in grade height.

A method for pollinating plants (A), notably fruit trees, located underneath orientable photovoltaic collectors (C) is provided. The shade cast on the plants is modified by changing the orientation of the collectors. The orientation of the collectors is automatically acted on depending on the state of flowering such that the sunlight and/or exposure to the wind is increased in relation to a collectors control reference applied when the flowering is not mature or has not commenced, to encourage the activity of pollinators and/or promote the effect of the wind on the pollination.