The invention is broadly in the agricultural field, more precisely in the field of industrial plant growth facilities. In particular, the invention concerns an industrial plant growing facility (100) for growing a variety of plants using predetermined growth conditions. Also, the invention concerns methods for growing plants in industrial plant growth facilities (100).

A method for cultivation and processing of sugar beets the includes steps of: providing the sugar beets and/or sugar beet seedlings in a first step; supplying the sugar beets and/or the sugar beet seedlings with a nutrient solution during growth in a second step; harvesting at least partially fully grown sugar beets in a third step; processing the harvested sugar beets in a sugar production plant in order to extract sugar from the sugar beets in a fourth step; the nutrient solution used in the second step is at least partially obtained by recovering water in the fourth step which is recycled in the second step.

An aquaponic system comprises a growing enclosure having a roof and first second transparent parallel perimeter walls. A controller may energize a motor-driven spindle above and between the perimeter walls to raise or lower wound sheets of reflective material to control sunlight admitted into the enclosure. A fish tank within the enclosure contains fluid and fish and a drain outlet leading to a sludge separator. Sludge is processed through a series of biofilter tanks to produce a nutrient fluid irrigated onto plants growing in bed tubes arrayed in cylindrical grow towers. Tubs beneath the grow towers contain nutrient soil and other organisms. Several closed loops of pumped fluid flows circulate nutrient fluids among the fish tank, sludge tank, biofilter tanks, and irrigation lines for the grow towers. Flow restrictors balance these flow loops. Vortex oxygenators at points along the flow loops mix air into the circulating nutrient fluids.

A compact plant growing unit has a body having an interior volume, a front portion, a top portion, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a basin portion extending outwardly from the bottom panel and the front portion and adapted to hold water therein. At least one opening in the front portion, wherein each of the opening includes a gutter member extending outwardly and upwardly from the front portion. A tube member placed within each of the opening and extending into the interior volume of the body. A water hose located within the interior volume of the body and extending between the basin portion and the top portion of the body, the water hose including at least one nozzle therethrough, wherein the water hose is adapted to allow water to pass from the basin portion, upwards and through the water hose, and outwards from the at least one nozzle opening, such that plants that are growing within each of the at least one tube member receive water that is ejected from the water hose. A pump member located within the interior volume of the body adapted to force water located within the basin portion upwards and through the water hose, and outwards from the at least one nozzle opening.

A system for cultivating a crop includes a guide and a plurality of gutters. Each gutter is provided to contain a plurality of crop units and the guide is provided to guide the gutters in a first direction and to gradually increase the distance between adjacent gutters in said direction so that the number of crop units per square metre in the area substantially decreases. The area comprises first and second zones, and each gutter in the first zone contains crop units with a first intermediate distance and each gutter in the second zone contains crop units with a second intermediate distance. The first intermediate distance is considerably smaller than the second intermediate distance and the distance between gutters in the first zone at the position of a transition from the first zone to the second zone is considerably greater than the distance between gutters in the second zone.

A growing system for providing fluids to a plurality of growing assemblies using only a single pump and fluid source. The growing system generally includes a single fluid source such as a reservoir from which fluids are drawn by a single pump. A main manifold connected to the pump outlet splits the fluids drawn from the fluid source into a plurality of feeder pipes. Each of the feeder pipes provides fluid to a separate growing assembly; with the present invention providing support for a plurality of growing assemblies. Each growing assembly comprises an inlet manifold for receiving the fluids, a plurality of growing pipes for providing the fluids to a plurality of planters, and a drainage device for discharging fluids back into the fluid source for further use.

A closed loop compost tea brewing system with a hydroponic reservoir and a compost tea brewing assembly configured to brew compost tea. The compost tea brewer assembly includes a tea brewing reservoir. The system includes has a closed loop arrangement fluidly connecting the tea brewing reservoir and the hydroponic reservoir. The closed loop arrangement is configured to provide continuous fluid flow from the tea brewing reservoir to the hydroponic reservoir, which is recirculated back from the hydroponic reservoir to the tea brewing reservoir.

A hydroponic cultivating device includes a first spraying portion configured to supply a plant with water utilizing electric power; a second spraying portion configured to supply the plant with the water utilizing water-line pressure; a detecting portion configured to detect a state of electric power supply necessary for supplying the plant with the water by the first spraying portion; and a controlling portion configured to control the second spraying portion, wherein the controlling portion switches a city-water switching valve and a discharge switching valve from a closed state to an open state, and thereby, supplies the plant with the water by the second spraying portion, in a case where it is determined that the electric power supply is stopped, based on the state of the electric power supply detected by the detecting portion.

A method of irrigating a saline aquaculture system to control pests is described herein. The method includes acquiring a second set of environmental condition data on a computing device using a sensor coupled to a platform, such that the platform is configured to grow a salt-tolerant plant therein; comparing the second set of environmental condition data to a first set of environmental condition data acquired at a previous time point; determining whether freshwater accumulation has increased or will increase at a future time point on a surface of the platform; when it is determined that the freshwater accumulation on the surface of the platform has increased or will increase relative to the previous time point, activating a saltwater distribution device coupled to the platform; and reducing an accumulation of one or more of: insects, caterpillars, fungi, and bacteria on the surface of the platform.

A device for growing plants is provided. The device has a panel assembly on which a one or a plurality of nutrient flow channels is supported to provide nutrient flow passages from an inlet at an upper region to an outlet at a lower region of the support panel. A plurality of grow pockets is supported on an opposite side face of the support panel, the grow pockets in alignment with the nutrient flow channels. Each grow pocket has a plant access opening. A fluid aperture in the support panel is disposed at a lower region of each grow pocket for fluid communication between an interior of the grow pocket and the aligned nutrient flow passage.