Hydroculture media can be a synthetic soil including a three dimensional solid made of a plurality of fibers. The three dimensional solids can be a variety of shapes, such as spheres, cylinders, cones, cubes, cuboids, parallelepipeds, polyhedrons (e.g., pyramid, tetrahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, icosahedron), prisms, spheroids, ellipsoids, paraboloids, hyperboloids, rings, and combinations thereof. The solids can have a length/diameter ratio in the range of 0.1-5:1. Some or all of the fibers can include an antimicrobial substance and/or plant nutrients.

An agricultural water retention system including a subsurface water retention barrier positioned in soil below a root zone of one or more plants; wherein the subsurface water retention barrier consists of a plurality of hydrophobic beads layered in a loosely packed manner; and wherein the subsurface water retention barrier is air permeable. Optionally, there is also included a surface evaporation barrier positioned proximate a surface of the soil, such that the surface evaporation barrier includes at least one layer of hydrophobic beads.

A growing medium for a plant production apparatus utilized in greenhouse crop production is provided. The growing medium comprises a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material wherein the media material is constructed from a plastic material.

A synthetic soil substrate system has a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers that are individually designed to promote plant growth as the roots grow into the layer and as a function of the growth stage. The synthetic soil substrate layers may be planar or may be concentrically arranged with a first synthetic soil substrate ring layer being configured inside of a second synthetic soil substrate ring layer. A synthetic soil substrate has pores that are configured for plant growth and retention and/or deliver of water and growth additives. The average pore size of a first synthetic soil substrate layer may be substantially different from the average pore size of an adjacent synthetic soil substrate layer. Also, the pore structure or shape of the pores may be different between synthetic soil substrate layers, The synthetic soil substrate may have an integral growth additive retained in the pores.

A synthetic soil substrate system has a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers that are individually designed to promote plant growth as the roots grow into the layer and as a function of the growth stage. The synthetic soil substrate layers may be planar or may be concentrically arranged with a first synthetic soil substrate ring layer being configured inside of a second synthetic soil substrate ring layer. A synthetic soil substrate has pores that are configured for plant growth and retention and/or deliver of water and growth additives. The average pore size of a first synthetic soil substrate layer may be substantially different from the average pore size of an adjacent synthetic soil substrate layer. Also, the pore structure or shape of the pores may be different between synthetic soil substrate layers, The synthetic soil substrate may have an integral growth additive retained in the pores.

A plant plug for germinating, cutting and/or growing plants and/or for tissue culture includes a strip of polymeric fibres, where the fibres are substantially oriented in the plane of the strip and optionally locally mutually bonded to one another, and where the strip is arranged in multiple, vertically arranged layers. In a layer the fibres may be substantially oriented horizontally or vertically. A typical configuration includes a cylinder shaped plant plug. A manufacturing method and various uses of the plant plug are also described.

A plant plug for germinating, cutting and/or growing plants and/or for tissue culture includes a strip of polymeric fibres, where the fibres are substantially oriented in the plane of the strip and optionally locally mutually bonded to one another, and where the strip is arranged in multiple, vertically arranged layers. In a layer the fibres may be substantially oriented horizontally or vertically. A typical configuration includes a cylinder shaped plant plug. A manufacturing method and various uses of the plant plug are also described.

Variable-scale, modular, easily manufacturable, energy efficient, reliable, and computer-operated farming superstructure systems (FSS) may be used to produce Cannabis for human consumption with minimal water and environmental impact. A FSS system may comprise modules including liquid distribution and plant growing. A FSS may be configured to be constructed out of a plurality of containerized modules.

Variable-scale, modular, easily manufacturable, energy efficient, reliable, and computer-operated farming superstructure systems (FSS) may be used to produce Cannabis for human consumption with minimal water and environmental impact. A FSS system may comprise modules including liquid distribution and plant growing. A FSS may be configured to be constructed out of a plurality of containerized modules.

The invention relates to growing media, methods of manufacture thereof and their use in agriculture.