The present disclosure provides a seeding formulation for woody plants and a pre-treatment of surfaces (e.g. rocks, waste rocks, tailings, overburden) on disturbed and degraded lands. The seeding formulation includes a mix of woody trees or shrubs seeds, organic mulch, beneficial microbial populations, mineral fertilizer, adhesive, absorbent polymer, and water. The pre-treatment of surfaces refers to the spreading or mixing of surfaces with organic biomass. Methods of preparing and applying the seeding formulation and pre-treatment are also disclosed. The formulation is used for the phytoremediation, ecological restoration, land reclamation, environmental rehabilitation, revitalization, revegetation, and reforestation of disturbed and degraded lands.

The present invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers comprisingat least one hydrocolloid, at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol.

The present invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers comprisingat least one hydrocolloid, at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol.

A grow plug (1) has a dimensionally stabilized dried body (3) of glued organic material as well as at least a single seed grain (5). The seed grain is present on the body and the body has a density that is such that it absorbs liquid from below up to the top side and retains an amount of water that is sufficient for having the seed grain germinate and grow into a plant. When a plant is cultivated by means of this grow plug (1) the grow plug is put in the soil (25) or in a cultivation system and subsequently moistened by pouring water from above onto the grow plug, where the redundant water is drained by the grow plug or the grow plug is inserted into water (21) with its bottom side, and the grow plug sucks up water and some time after the germination of the seed grain the grow plug is put in the soil (25) or in the cultivation system.

Techniques for reducing water evaporation from soil and other fresh water mediums, such as open bodies of water are provided that include forming a hydrophobic capillary layer thereon. The hydrophobic capillary layer includes a plurality of hydrophobic capillaries configured to push or otherwise direct water provided in the soil or the fresh water medium downward or back into the soil or the fresh water medium while allowing water vapor, oxygen and other gases to pass. This increases the diffusion resistance for the water molecules to pass through the hydrophobic capillary layer and thereby reduces the rate of evaporation of water from the underlying soil or fresh water medium. In an aspect, the hydrophobic capillary layer is formed via soil particles respectively coated with a hydrophobic coating. The reduction to water evaporation from a soil layer covered with the hydrophobic capillary layer results in an increased amount of water retention in the soil layer, which in turn enhances plant growth while conserving water.

A method of preparing a fertiliser composition, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a digestate material; (ii) contacting the digestate material with a composition comprising carbon dioxide; (iii) contacting the material obtained in step (ii) with a source of nitrate and/or sulfate; and (iv) admixing the material obtained in step (iii) with urea.

A method of preparing a fertiliser composition, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a digestate material; (ii) contacting the digestate material with a composition comprising carbon dioxide; (iii) contacting the material obtained in step (ii) with a source of nitrate and/or sulfate; and (iv) admixing the material obtained in step (iii) with urea.

A culture soil for plants includes a fungus of genus Cladophialophora, and one kind of soil of strongly acidic organic cultivation soil, strongly acidic conventional cultivation soil, or weakly acidic to neutral organic cultivation soil. Alternatively, a culture soil for plants contains fungi, which are Exophiala sp. SK47 or a mutant isolate thereof, and strongly acidic organic cultivation soil or strongly acidic conventional cultivation soil; a method of cultivating plant using the culture soil; and a seedling of a plant with culture soil are also provided.

A culture soil for plants includes a fungus of genus Cladophialophora, and one kind of soil of strongly acidic organic cultivation soil, strongly acidic conventional cultivation soil, or weakly acidic to neutral organic cultivation soil. Alternatively, a culture soil for plants contains fungi, which are Exophiala sp. SK47 or a mutant isolate thereof, and strongly acidic organic cultivation soil or strongly acidic conventional cultivation soil; a method of cultivating plant using the culture soil; and a seedling of a plant with culture soil are also provided.

A hydroponic substrate includes a three-dimensional self-supporting, vertically stable fibrous body having an inner portion including a first fiber density and an outer crust portion including densified fiber having a second fiber density, the second fiber density being different than the first fiber density, the inner portion and the outer crust portion forming horizontal and vertical liquid pathways structured to distribute liquid throughout the body.