There is discussed a method of picking and placing bulbs, in which bulbs are supplied on a supply surface of a bulbs supply system; the bulbs being identified and picked from the supply surface with a pick-and-place head; wherein the bulbs are reoriented about a minor axis before being placed.

There is discussed a method of picking and placing bulbs, in which bulbs are supplied on a supply surface of a bulbs supply system; the bulbs being identified and picked from the supply surface with a pick-and-place head; wherein picked bulbs are transferred from the pick-and-place head, shoot-first and roots-last to a transfer-receptacle comprising at least one bulb-receptor, wherein the bulb-receptor temporarily clutches said bulb.

The present disclosure relates to an onion growing method, and more particularly, to an onion growing method that includes the steps of: (a) allowing onions to be dormant; (b) breaking the dormancy of the onions; (c) planting the onions of which dormancy is broken in a field; (d) growing the planted onions to produce a plurality of stems and bulbs divided from the respective onions; and (e) harvesting the plurality of stems and bulbs. According to the present disclosure, the onion growing method does not have any limitation in growth time unlike a conventional onion growing method, reduces a period of growth, and drastically increasing onion yield to raise a farmer's profits. Also, the onion growing method stably supplies onion stems and leaves, thereby providing various profits through onions.

The present disclosure relates to an onion growing method, and more particularly, to an onion growing method that includes the steps of: (a) allowing onions to be dormant; (b) breaking the dormancy of the onions; (c) planting the onions of which dormancy is broken in a field; (d) growing the planted onions to produce a plurality of stems and bulbs divided from the respective onions; and (e) harvesting the plurality of stems and bulbs. According to the present disclosure, the onion growing method does not have any limitation in growth time unlike a conventional onion growing method, reduces a period of growth, and drastically increasing onion yield to raise a farmer's profits. Also, the onion growing method stably supplies onion stems and leaves, thereby providing various profits through onions.

System (1) for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs and a method for transporting and spacing objects. The system comprises a bulk-conveyor (2) for conveying a plurality of plant-bulbs as a bulk mass; a single-file vibration-trough (3) downstream of the bulk-conveyor, arranged to receive plant-bulbs from the bulk-conveyor and to further convey received plant-bulbs in single-file; a single-file conveyor (4) downstream of the single-file vibration-trough, arranged to receive plant-bulbs from the vibration-trough; wherein the bulk-conveyor has a discharge edge (21) and the single-file vibration-trough is longitudinally aligned substantially parallel to the discharge edge; wherein the vibration-trough is configured to progress the plant-bulbs at a first speed, wherein the single-file conveyor is configured to progress the plant-bulbs at a second speed, and wherein the second speed is higher than the first speed whereby during use plant-bulbs transferring from the vibration-trough to the single-file conveyor are spaced on the single-file conveyor.

Growing system for growing plants, for example vegetables and ornamental plants, includes a container tray (1) which is floatably arranged in a liquid reservoir (14). The container tray (1) is configured to float on nutrient water (6) during use and has at least one opening (4) which is arranged in a tray bottom (2) of the container tray (1) for bringing a growth substrate (11) which is arranged on the container tray (1) into contact with the nutrient water (6). The container tray (1) is a substantially flat container tray (1) which includes an upright tray edge (3), and wherein the at least one opening (4) has an upright opening edge (5) having a height which is such that the growth substrate (11) is situated above a water line of the nutrient water (6) during use.

The proposed technology relates to a plant cultivation assembly (100) and to a method of cultivating a plant (107). The plant cultivation assembly (100) comprises a growth medium support (101), a growth position (108) within the growth medium support (101), and a magnet (103). A magnetic field is generated by the magnet at the growth medium support, the generated magnetic field is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane (102).

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.

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.