A soil-less plant cultivation substrate, for use in hydroponic or aeroponic plant cultivation, adapts entangled layers of natural wool batting that has been chemically treated with a compound containing thiol to increase its water holding capacity. In the preferred embodiment, the chemical treatment uses thioglycolic acid, such as calcium thioglycolate or ammonium thioglycolate, to increase the wool's solubility and then a neutralizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, halts the process. The thiol compound reduces the disulfide bonds of cysteine in the cortex of the wool and the hydrogen peroxide neutralizes the reaction and oxidizes the cysteines back to cystine, although not all disulfide bonds are reformed. The addition of an alkaline modifier is used to moderate or hasten the breaking the disulfide bonds.

A soil-less plant cultivation substrate, for use in hydroponic or aeroponic plant cultivation, adapts entangled layers of natural wool batting that has been chemically treated with a compound containing thiol to increase its water holding capacity. In the preferred embodiment, the chemical treatment uses thioglycolic acid, such as calcium thioglycolate or ammonium thioglycolate, to increase the wool's solubility and then a neutralizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, halts the process. The thiol compound reduces the disulfide bonds of cysteine in the cortex of the wool and the hydrogen peroxide neutralizes the reaction and oxidizes the cysteines back to cystine, although not all disulfide bonds are reformed. The addition of an alkaline modifier is used to moderate or hasten the breaking the disulfide bonds.

Versions of the disclosure relate to multilayer flats for germinating seeds and growing plants in aeroponic or hydroponic farming. The multilayer structure can include a soilless growth medium sandwiched between a support layer and a light barrier layer. The support layer includes openings that allow plant roots to be sprayed with a nutrient solution and the light barrier layer includes openings that allow plants to develop while limiting the growth of harmful algae on the soilless growth medium.

Versions of the disclosure relate to multilayer flats for germinating seeds and growing plants in aeroponic or hydroponic farming. The multilayer structure can include a soilless growth medium sandwiched between a support layer and a light barrier layer. The support layer includes openings that allow plant roots to be sprayed with a nutrient solution and the light barrier layer includes openings that allow plants to develop while limiting the growth of harmful algae on the soilless growth medium.

The present invention is in the field of extraction a product for liquid absorption comprising a low-density biopolymer, such as obtainable from a granular sludge, in particular alginate or bacterial alginate, wherein the biobased polymer acts as a super-absorbing material, and a method of obtaining said product.

A coir pellet has coconut pith mixed with at least one other material, and binder mixed into the coconut pith, wherein the coconut pith, at least one other material and the binder are compressed at a ratio of at least 3:1. A method of producing coir pellets includes conditioning coconut pith and at least one other material to produce conditioned material, first compressing the conditioned material to produce pellets of a first size at a first compression ratio, at least a second compressing the pellets of a first sized to produce pellets of at least a second size at a second compression ratio, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size, and the second compression ratio is higher than the first compression ratio, polishing the pellets of at least a second size to produce polished pellets, and drying the polished pellets to produce the coir pellets.

There is provided an off-ground plant growing system providing an electronic monitoring system and also providing a thin layer of high porosity organic compost and providing the steps of adding a precise amount of vermicompost to the soil phase, immediately followed by addition of arbuscular mycorhizae, and followed by regular weekly addition of beneficial micro-organisms for plant development, including mycorhizae associated bacteria, plant growth promoting fungi, soil conditioning bacteria, purple non-sulphur bacteria and probiotic disease-preventing bacteria, in order to promote the creation of a well differentiated, dense and ramified root system and complete microrhizobiome in the compost phase, that can effectively assist the functions of plant roots for optimal precision greenhouse, green walling or homegrown crop production of all kinds, without the use of chemical pesticides or fungicides.

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.

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 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.