Systems, methods and devices for harvesting plants include an ultrasonic blade for severing top portion(s) of one or more plants. The system includes a first conveyor surface which moves the one or more plants in a linear direction. The ultrasonic blade is disposed above the first conveyor surface at an end of a second conveyor surface of a retrieval system. A first top portion of the one or more plants is severed by contacting a first plant at a first height with the ultrasonic blade. Also, the height of the ultrasonic blade can be adjusted such that a second top portion of the one or more plants is severed by contacting a second plant at a second height with the ultrasonic blade. Furthermore, the ultrasonic blade can have an edge which vibrates at a frequency of 20 kHz or greater to severe the top portion(s).

Systems, methods and devices for harvesting plants include an ultrasonic blade for severing top portion(s) of one or more plants. The system includes a first conveyor surface which moves the one or more plants in a linear direction. The ultrasonic blade is disposed above the first conveyor surface at an end of a second conveyor surface of a retrieval system. A first top portion of the one or more plants is severed by contacting a first plant at a first height with the ultrasonic blade. Also, the height of the ultrasonic blade can be adjusted such that a second top portion of the one or more plants is severed by contacting a second plant at a second height with the ultrasonic blade. Furthermore, the ultrasonic blade can have an edge which vibrates at a frequency of 20 kHz or greater to severe the top portion(s).

An agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms, includes the steps of performing a preventive chemical, physical and pedologic analysis of the soils intended for cultivation, in order to identify their composition, hydrologic characteristics, and verify the absence of pathogens, infesting organisms and pollutants; selecting among natural seeds and mycelia, not genetically modified, the ones most suitable for the parameters of the soil identified previously; and performing iterated periodic checks on the vegetable, mushroom species, that grow after seeding, in order to detect biotic adversities and/or infestations thereof.

The method further includes the steps of performing at least one plant protection treatment by using active ingredients selected among insecticides, herbicides, acaricides, limacides and fungicides; near the time of harvest, performing iterated periodic spot checks of the vegetables, mushrooms, in order to measure the residual concentration of active plant protection principles; and upon sampling to assess the residual concentration of active plant protection principles lower than 0.01 mg/kg, harvesting the cultivated vegetables, mushrooms.

This invention relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a plant by associating the plant with a complex endophyte comprising a host fungus further comprising a component bacterium, including benefits to a plant derived from a seed or other plant element treated with a complex endophyte. For example, this invention provides purified complex endophytes, purified complex endophyte components such as bacteria or fungi, synthetic combinations comprising said complex endophytes and/or components, and methods of making and using the same.

This invention relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a plant by associating the plant with a complex endophyte comprising a host fungus further comprising a component bacterium, including benefits to a plant derived from a seed or other plant element treated with a complex endophyte. For example, this invention provides purified complex endophytes, purified complex endophyte components such as bacteria or fungi, synthetic combinations comprising said complex endophytes and/or components, and methods of making and using the same.

Soil plant productivity is improved by manipulation of soil microflora. The soil microflora is manipulated by addition of a bacterium belonging to Rhizobium (Rhizobiales) to the soil.

Soil plant productivity is improved by manipulation of soil microflora. The soil microflora is manipulated by addition of a bacterium belonging to Rhizobium (Rhizobiales) to the soil.

Provided is a method for interplanting grape and Polygonatum kingianum in a photovoltaic (PV) power plant. The method includes: building a grapevine traction frame which is higher in south and lower in north in a space formed by a plurality of PV modules in the PV power plant, the grapevine traction frame includes a plurality of uprights, a plurality of traction crossbars, a plurality of supporting bars and a wire mesh; making a grape ridge below the south of each PV module and planting grape seedlings; maintaining two branches for each of the grape seedlings in the same year of grape planting, and pulling the two branches along the traction crossbar located in south; pulling branches grown out of arm bud points southwards onto the wire mesh in the next year of grape planting; sowing and ploughing a green manure, making planting beds in a shade and planting Polygonatum kingianum.

A method for the production of vegetable flours, which includes the following steps: identifying a vegetable with specific and predefined nutritional properties of interest and selecting those best suited for the production of flours; performing a chemical, physical and pedological analysis of the soils intended for cultivation; selecting natural seeds most suitable for the soil parameters; performing checks on the vegetable species that grow after seeding; performing at least one plant protection treatment; and close to a harvesting period, performing iterated periodic spot checks of the vegetables. The method further includes the steps of at the samplings in order to evaluate the residual concentration of active plant protection ingredients lower than 0.01 mg/kg, performing the harvesting of the cultivated vegetables; performing a drying of the vegetables; and grinding at least one part of the dried vegetable until a flour is obtained with a particle size distribution.

Plant cultivation for increasing the phytochemical content of a Labiatae plant is provided. The plant cultivation includes cultivating the Labiatae plant in a visible light environment having a dark period and a light period during which the Labiatae plant is exposed to visible light in an alternate manner, and performing treatment with UVB radiation during the light period for at least one day before harvesting. A cumulative dose of the UVB radiation may range from 0.54 J/m.sup.2 to 4.32 kJ/m.sup.2.