A method for cultivating alcohol-brewing sorghum on the basis of a biodegradable mulching film includes five steps such as farmland preparation, film mulching, sowing operation, field management and harvesting. Compared with a traditional alcohol-brewing sorghum planting method, the method of the present invention can effectively bring forward the planting time of alcohol-brewing sorghum, reduce the sowing amount of alcohol-brewing sorghum, assist in increasing the germination rate of alcohol-brewing sorghum, and promote the growth and development of alcohol-brewing sorghum; moreover, the method of the present invention effectively reduces the labor intensity and cost of a weeding operation in field management.

A method of underground watering utilizes a pouch-like container product made by joining a first sheet having SAP particles adhered to a first surface with a second sheet to form a container partially filled with such particles. The application of pressure, for example by passing the product through a roll nip, facilitates joining of the sheets and causes the particles to break through at least the one of the sheets to create an opening whereby free volume is created to permit the particles to expand when in contact with a liquid. The resultant product is used to collect, store, and dispense water-containing liquids into the soil for watering of agricultural plants, trees, and the like. A composite underground watering element is also included in an embodiment of the invention. The inventive products may also be used as a pad, including a propagation pad, to collect, store, and dispense water-containing-liquids into plant vessels to provide watering of plants. Also included are underground watering of athletic fields and golf course greens, erosion control products and plant root balls having a watering collar.

Methods are provided for identifying and selecting mutant cereal crop lines having high biomass values within a period corresponding to Zadok's growth stages of from about Z30 to Z39; for identifying and selecting mutant cereal crop lines having potential for increased yield; and for generating a grain yield prediction in mutant cereal crop lines.

A composition for agricultural or horticultural application, which contains isoleucine as an active ingredient, and is sprinkled on a fruit vegetable, fruit tree, or grain plant, or a harvested fruit as a solution having an isoleucine concentration of 0.5 to 75 mM, is sprinkled on a leaf surface and/or a fruit of a plant to provide at least one of promotion of blooming, promotion of the appearance of the fruit, improvement in number of fruit produced, promotion of ripening of fruit, improvement in essential amino acid and/or -ABA content, promotion of carotenoid synthesis, and improvement in antioxidant capacity.

A method is provided for evaluating plant roots, comprising (i) growing a plant in a substantially transparent container charged with a particulate, non-transparent growing medium; and (ii) evaluating plant roots through the transparent container by digital imaging. An apparatus for evaluating plant roots in a high throughput manner is also provided.

An ecological restoration method for seawater back-flowing farmlands in a tropical region includes the following steps: performing soil ridging on a seawater back-flowing saline-alkalized land by using a whole-mulching double-ridge model thereof, a ridge body that has been ridged is a trapezoidal structure, and perpendicular to a direction of a coastline; planting a salt-tolerant plant on ridges, and planting Acanthus ilicifolius in furrows. Salts on the ridges are rinsed into the furrows by means of natural precipitation and irrigation; the Acanthus ilicifolius that have been planted in the furrows excretes redundant salts by using salt glands; the salt-tolerant plant and the Acanthus ilicifolius are harvested to effectively remove salts, thereby achieving an effect of reducing salts in soil by a dual-function of the ridges and the furrows.

An ecological restoration method for seawater back-flowing farmlands in a tropical region includes the following steps: performing soil ridging on a seawater back-flowing saline-alkalized land by using a whole-mulching double-ridge model thereof, a ridge body that has been ridged is a trapezoidal structure, and perpendicular to a direction of a coastline; planting a salt-tolerant plant on ridges, and planting Acanthus ilicifolius in furrows. Salts on the ridges are rinsed into the furrows by means of natural precipitation and irrigation; the Acanthus ilicifolius that have been planted in the furrows excretes redundant salts by using salt glands; the salt-tolerant plant and the Acanthus ilicifolius are harvested to effectively remove salts, thereby achieving an effect of reducing salts in soil by a dual-function of the ridges and the furrows.

The present invention refers to new methods for the production of food, and/or drinks, and/or dietary supplements with a low content of cholesterol and/or with a high content of dicarboxylic acids. The present invention refers also to foodstuffs and/or drinks and/or dietary supplements that can be obtained with these methods and to their utilization, for instance in the prevention and treatment of diseases where carbohydrates and/or lipids are not correctly metabolized or in any of the pathologic states associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and Alzheimer disease. Specifically, the present invention refers to methods to produce low-cholesterol eggs and to methods to produce plants both terrestrial and aquatic plants and/or algae for food use, and/or dietary supplements and/or drinks enriched with dicarboxylic acids.

The present invention refers to new methods for the production of food, and/or drinks, and/or dietary supplements with a low content of cholesterol and/or with a high content of dicarboxylic acids. The present invention refers also to foodstuffs and/or drinks and/or dietary supplements that can be obtained with these methods and to their utilization, for instance in the prevention and treatment of diseases where carbohydrates and/or lipids are not correctly metabolized or in any of the pathologic states associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and Alzheimer disease. Specifically, the present invention refers to methods to produce low-cholesterol eggs and to methods to produce plants both terrestrial and aquatic plants and/or algae for food use, and/or dietary supplements and/or drinks enriched with dicarboxylic acids.

The subject invention provides compositions and methods for reducing the carbon footprint of producing biofuels. Microbe-based soil treatment compositions are utilized to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the agricultural practices of producing feedstock crops.