A device and a method for breeding blueberry-specific mycorrhizal fungi. The device includes a container, where a bottom of the container is laid with perlite to form a perlite layer; an absorbent cotton is arranged on the perlite layer; a hole for planting is provided in the absorbent cotton and blueberry tissue culture seedlings or moss seedlings are placed in the hole; and a spore transfer solution is provided around the blueberry tissue culture seedlings or moss seedlings. When used as a bacterial fertilizer for inoculation in the field, the pieces of absorbent cotton are buried directly around the blueberry roots; while used for research, one of the pieces of the absorbent cotton is washed with sterile water and filtered with a filter paper to obtain mycorrhizal fungi spores.

A water level controller for a hydroponic system includes a float shifting upward and downward with the culture solution, a first magnetic attraction element and an inlet valve for feeding in the culture solution. The float includes a seal and a second magnetic attraction element. The seal closes the inlet valve to stop feeding in water when the float ascends to a high water level, and moves way from the inlet valve to start feeding in water at a low water level. The second magnetic attraction element attracts the first magnetic attraction element to keep the seal closing the inlet valve at the high water level and to keep the seal moving away from the inlet valve at the low water level, until the buoyancy of the float is larger than the magnetic attraction between the second and the first magnetic attraction element thereby causing escape from each other.

In some embodiments, a method for managing growing vine in a vineyard includes operating one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to fly over a plurality of sections of a vineyard. The UAVs are fitted with a plurality of cameras equipped to generate images in a plurality of spectrums. The plurality of sections of the vineyard grow vines of a plurality of varietals. The method further includes taking a plurality of aerial images of the sections of the vineyard in the plurality of spectrums, using the plurality of cameras, while the UAVs are flying over the plurality of sections of the vineyard, and executing an analyzer on a computing system to machine analyze the plurality of aerial images for anomalies associated with growing the vines of the plurality of varietals. The machine analysis takes into consideration topological information of the vineyard, as well as current planting information of the vineyard.

A method and a system for increasing the degree days in the immediate environment of fruit bearing vines for the cultivation of particular fruit bearing vines, such as non-rustic vinifera variety vines, in unfavourable climatic regions where the degree days is insufficient for the full maturity of the fruit, is described. Rows of the vines are protected in removable shelters which have a removable tarp cover disposed over a support frame structure to shield the rows of vines from the harsh, vine damaging, winter month temperatures while keeping the vines in a controlled temperature environment. Heated liquid circulation conduits are supported in the shelters at predetermined locations and provide controlled heat during the winter months to prevent the vines and the cordon bearing spuds of the vines from damaging cold temperatures. In the early spring the roots are activated early and the tarp is removed and a transparent film sheet covering is substituted to admit sunlight to help activate the vine early to gain degree days. The method and system is also applicable to semi-rustic or rustic wine producing grape vines grown in these climatic regions having degree days down to about 1200.

A system for growing plants includes an elevated track circuit comprising two straight track sections and two arcuate track sections, with the straight track sections each including a cavity. A plurality of wheeled trolleys that each include a wheel configured to roll within the cavities and each include a shaft extending downwardly form the wheel. A drive system is configured to move the wheeled trolleys along the track circuit with the wheeled trolleys connected together by a cable, and with the shafts of the trolleys configured to support plants coupled thereto to selectively move the plants along the track circuit. Uses of the system include for growing produce of vine plants in a lean-and-lower manner, or transporting hanging plants through an irrigation device of the system.

An ecological pollution treatment system for livestock and poultry farms based on combination of planting and breeding, including a source separation water-saving enclosure, a pollution treatment factory, a feed factory and a supporting planting land. The pollution treatment factory and the feed factory are managed by professional teams for specialized disposal of livestock and poultry manure. The pollution treatment factory is composed of a high-temperature aerobic solid fermentation system, a medium-temperature anaerobic liquid fermentation system, a cracking and propagation system, a heating and heat balancing system, a waste gas treatment system and a detection and control system. Sensors of the detection and control system are arranged in the above systems. The present invention can carry out comprehensive treatment on feces, urine and other wastes and waste gases generated during breeding in large-scale pig farms for resource utilization, and is of great significance to rural environmental protection.

This disclosure includes a method for pruning a fruit plant. An exemplary method step includes obtaining an image of the fruit plant that has branches. Next, creating exclusion zones surrounding the branches. Then pruning the fruit plant based upon the exclusion zones.

In some embodiments, a method for managing growing vine in a vineyard includes operating one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to fly over a plurality of sections of a vineyard. The UAVs are fitted with a plurality of cameras equipped to generate images in a plurality of spectrums. The plurality of sections of the vineyard grow vines of a plurality of varietals. The method further includes taking a plurality of aerial images of the sections of the vineyard in the plurality of spectrums, using the plurality of cameras, while the UAVs are flying over the plurality of sections of the vineyard, and executing an analyzer on a computing system to machine analyze the plurality of aerial images for anomalies associated with growing the vines of the plurality of varietals. The machine analysis takes into consideration topological information of the vineyard, as well as current planting information of the vineyard.

A machine for pulling off plant branches, in particular vine branches, of tying wires to which they cling by tendrils comprising a combination of means capable to extract the branches downwards. The combination of means comprises a (resiliently pivoted) pressing member and a pulling member facing the pressing member. In operation, the pulling member is moving so that its surface oriented towards the pressing member moves downwards. Cut-off branches are pressed on this surface by the pressing member by a force sufficient that the branches are dragged downwardly along and are forcibly detached from the tying wires. The downward removal corresponds to the about V-shaped ramifications of the plant, so that it is effected more easily and without obstruction by the ramifications which tend to get caught by the tying wires when removal occurs upwards. A branch not cut-off and tied to the trellis wire withstands the pressing member provided a suitable adjusted resilient pressing force is selected, supported by the pressing member consisting of a resilient material like an elastomer. Such a branch will not suffer any contact, or at least a minimal contact only, with the pulling device.

Coloring of fruits is promoted by applying a one or more the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and/or phenylalanine, in combination with abscisic acid to a fruit plant, such as those of the genus Vitaceae or Rosaceae. The amino acid(s) and abscisic acid may be present in a solution(s) having concentrations of 0.2 mM to 100 mM and 0.1 M to 10 mM, respectively.