The present invention concerns a method of producing a moulded mineral wool insulation product, said method comprising the steps of providing a mixture by mixing mineral fibres with a binder composition, and providing said mixture in a mould form, and then curing the binder, wherein the binder composition comprises at least one hydrocolloid, and then removing the moulded product from the mould form.

The present invention provides a water-retaining layer for retaining water in soil, the water-retaining layer being composed of a coagulated natural rubber latex; a greening system having the water-retaining layer provided; and a construction method of the greening system, comprising: an exposing step of removing surface soil in a construction target land and exposing underground soil, a spraying step of spraying a natural rubber latex on an exposed surface of soil, a coagulation step of coagulating the natural rubber latex to form a water-retaining layer, and a covering step of covering the water-retaining layer with the removed surface soil.

The present invention provides a water-retaining layer for retaining water in soil, the water-retaining layer being composed of a coagulated natural rubber latex; a greening system having the water-retaining layer provided; and a construction method of the greening system, comprising: an exposing step of removing surface soil in a construction target land and exposing underground soil, a spraying step of spraying a natural rubber latex on an exposed surface of soil, a coagulation step of coagulating the natural rubber latex to form a water-retaining layer, and a covering step of covering the water-retaining layer with the removed surface soil.

A method for manufacturing a growing medium, the method including feeding biomass and biochar to a crusher and feeding a probiotic solution and a mixture obtained from the crusher, having a particle size of less than 25 mm, to a conveyor. The particle size of the biochar is 0.01-2.5 mm and the biochar is used in an amount of 0.05-7 vol-% of the biomass. The probiotic solution includes lactic bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria and at least one yeast, and the probiotic solution is used in an amount of 0.1-2 vol-% of the biomass. Additionally, a distillate obtained from a manufacture of the biochar is fed to the crusher and/or the conveyor.

The mycelial foam contains macroscopic void spaces that are formed by filler elements, such as agar beads, that are incorporated in the mycelial matrix during growth of the matrix and are removed from the matrix after growth in a non-destructive manner, such as by heating. The foam may be made of pure mycelium or may be a composite biomaterial.

The mycelial foam contains macroscopic void spaces that are formed by filler elements, such as agar beads, that are incorporated in the mycelial matrix during growth of the matrix and are removed from the matrix after growth in a non-destructive manner, such as by heating. The foam may be made of pure mycelium or may be a composite biomaterial.

An apparatus for treating water in soil-less growing systems has a container having a cross-sectional area and a height, with a first access port for liquid at an upper end, and a second access port for liquid at a lower end, and a porous matrix filling the container, the matrix comprising a hydrophilic polymer mixed with rocks and natural minerals. Water drawn from a soil-less growing system, is urged into the container through one of the liquid access ports, causes the water to flow through the matrix in the container, the water in contact with the rocks and natural minerals in the matrix, leaching elements from the matrix, and causes the water to exit the container at the other of the liquid access ports, to flow back to the soil-less growing system.

A structure has a high-impact plastic polymer tile comprising interconnected individual cells, each having an outer wall of a vertical dimension forming a closed outer periphery, and a matrix filling the cells from a lowermost extremity of the walls of the cells, to level below an uppermost extremity of the internal walls of the cells, the matrix comprising material supporting plant growth. With the tile lying on a base surface, the individual cells of the tile constrain the matrix material from horizontal translation, and wherein the walls of the cells, extending above the level of the matrix in the cells, provide support for any wheeled vehicle without disturbing the matrix.

An irrigation device includes: a cell plug that includes an opening facing upward and an accommodation part that accommodates a predetermined amount of culture medium in communication with the opening; a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid to a culture medium of the cell plug; and a cell plug lifting unit that lowers the cell plug when a weight of the cell plug is increased by a liquid supplied by the liquid supply unit and lifts the cell plug when a weight of the cell plug is decreased by drying of a culture medium. The liquid supply unit includes a contact end that is intermittently brought into contact with a culture medium by lifting and lowering of the cell plug by the cell plug lifting unit, performs liquid supply while the contact end is in contact with a culture medium, and stops liquid supply when the contact end is separated from a culture medium.

The purpose of the present invention is to establish a technology that enables individuals who do not have any special knowledge regarding soil to easily obtain soil that is rich in microorganisms in good balance and is suited to growing plants. This kit for producing a plant growth medium is provided with a base medium 1 comprising organic matter and a microorganism-containing capsule 2 serving as a packaging container comprising microorganisms. The plant growth medium 3 is produced by adding the microorganisms included in the microorganism-containing capsule 2 to the base medium 1.