A method for cultivation and processing of sugar beets the includes steps of: providing the sugar beets and/or sugar beet seedlings in a first step; supplying the sugar beets and/or the sugar beet seedlings with a nutrient solution during growth in a second step; harvesting at least partially fully grown sugar beets in a third step; processing the harvested sugar beets in a sugar production plant in order to extract sugar from the sugar beets in a fourth step; the nutrient solution used in the second step is at least partially obtained by recovering water in the fourth step which is recycled in the second step.

The present description relates to cryo-sprouts that have been germinated, grown and shipped in the same container. Seeds are placed on a membrane in the container with sufficient water. The container with the seeds is incubated at a pathogen antagonistic temperature during the growth phase. The pathogen antagonistic temperature is preferably between about 35? F. and about 45? F. The cryo-sprouts grown according to these methods have reduced numbers of pathogenic organisms, are greener and have an extended shelf-life.

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.

A hydroponic cultivation apparatus includes: a cultivation chamber underground portion internally including an underground space where a subterranean part of a plant grows such that the underground space is separated from above-ground space where aerial part of the plant grows; an underground temperature adjuster which adjusts a temperature of an atmosphere inside the underground space; and a controller which controls the underground temperature adjuster, in which the controller includes a dormancy determination unit which determines whether a time of cultivation of the plant is a dormant period when leaves of the aerial part wither, and a temperature controller which makes the underground temperature adjuster adjust the temperature of the atmosphere inside the underground space so as to facilitate germination of the plant in a case where the dormancy determination unit determines that the time of cultivation of the plant is the dormant period when leaves of the aerial part wither.

Apparatus and method for cultivation of a beet plant, the apparatus includes a formative structure with a cavity for containing the beet plant, the formative structure is designed such that an outer shape of the beet plant is at least partially affected by walls of the cavity during growth of the beet plant.

Apparatus and method for cultivation of a beet plant, the apparatus includes a formative structure with a cavity for containing the beet plant, the formative structure is designed such that an outer shape of the beet plant is at least partially affected by walls of the cavity during growth of the beet plant.

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.

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.

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.