Growing systems may include a number of modular growing chambers adapted to be configured in a stacked arrangement with each growing chamber surrounding a corresponding portion of the plant. The grow chambers may be selectively added or removed during plant growth, such that different sections of the growing plant may be influenced differently using aeroponic, hydroponic or other growing techniques. The grow chamber stack may be portable and provided with integrated or independent lifting devices to assist an operator in adding or removing chambers from the stack. Three growing processes may be facilitated using such systems. These include a process for producing assorted product from a single plant for simultaneous harvest, a process for producing an extended harvest of a desired size product from a single plant, and a process for extending the productive life of a plant and provide for multiple, continued, and perpetual harvest.

The invention relates to a method for producing for producing soluble potassium sulfate by recrystallization of crude potassium sulfate wherein the crude potassium sulfate contains an amount of potassium, calculated as K.sub.2O of about 15 wt % or higher preferably about 40 wt % or higher and has either more than about 0.07 wt % insoluble material, and/or a dissolution speed wherein at 3 min dissolution of 100 gram product in 1 L cold water (20 C.), without stirring the amount of dissolved potassium sulfate of less than about 90% and/or a pH of about 6 or higher as a 1% dissolved crude potassium sulfate, wherein the method comprises the following steps: crude potassium sulfate is dissolved, the dissolved potassium sulfate is subjected to a solid material removal step, potassium sulfate is crystallized, while optionally an acid is provided before, during or after the crystallization step of the potassium sulfate and whereafter the obtained potassium sulfate is separated and dried, wherein the particle size of the crystalline material is controlled to be within the ranges provided, optionally with sieving and/or grinding, preferably by sieving, such that the resulting potassium sulfate crystalline material conforms with the following characteristics: the amount of insoluble material is less than about 0.05 wt %, a 1 wt % solution of the potassium sulfate has a pH below about 6, and/or 1 pH unit lower than the pH of the crude potassium sulfate, the fraction obtained after crystallization has an average particle size within the following parameters: (i) d90<about 0.6 mm, (ii) d10>about 0.02 mm, and (iii) dust amounts to about 0.4 wt % or less, whereby the potassium sulfate contains more than 51% potassium, calculated as K.sub.2O.

The invention concerns novel nitrification inhibitors.

Disclosed are methods of producing nutrient solutions having unique isotopic fingerprints; methods of producing traceable plants; and methods of identifying the source of a traceable plant that does not rely on expensive artificially separated isotopes. Plants grown with these nutrient solutions will have unique isotopic fingerprints that will be difficult or impossible to counterfeit.

Disclosed are methods of producing nutrient solutions having unique isotopic fingerprints; methods of producing traceable plants; and methods of identifying the source of a traceable plant that does not rely on expensive artificially separated isotopes. Plants grown with these nutrient solutions will have unique isotopic fingerprints that will be difficult or impossible to counterfeit.

The objective of the invention is to provide a plant activator having a resistance to the wash-off and a superior handleability, transportability and storage stability. A powdery plant activator comprising, at least one compound selected from an oxo fatty acid or a derivative or a salt thereof and a hydroxy fatty acid or a derivative or a salt thereof, and an unsaturated fatty acid (excluding an oxo fatty acid and a hydroxy fatty acid).

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.

Disclosed are methods of improving germination rates of plants/crops, as well as preventing or arresting water evaporation loss from targeted soil areas, which allows for improved water usage efficiency by crops, plants, grasses, vegetation, etc.

Systems and methods for autonomous crop maintenance and seedline tracking in agricultural environments. The methods involve determining crop density within a field, generating kernel density estimations, and identifying seedline locations by analyzing local minima in crop density and their persistence. Virtual bands are generated around the seedlines to focus maintenance efforts, such as weeding or thinning, on these areas while ignoring out-of-band regions.

The invention relates to methods of forming coated metal oxide particles, suspensions of such coated particles, particles comprising functionalized surface coatings and to fortification of food crops with coated metal oxide particles. Embodiments disclosed include a method of fortifying a food crop with a trace element, the method comprising growing the food crop in a growth medium comprising the trace element in the form of metal oxide particles coated with an organic compound, and a food crop fortified with a trace element in the form of metal oxide particles. Also disclosed is a method of forming coated particles, the method comprising: providing a first quantity of metal oxide particles; providing a second quantity of a coating material comprising an organic compound; and mechanically mixing the metal oxide particles with the coating material in a dry mixing process to provide a mixture comprising the metal oxide particles coated with the organic compound.