Disclosed herein are mineral-based composites that comprise gypsum, syngenite, brucite and a hydrated magnesium sulphate mineral, and which are adapted to degrade when buried. Also disclosed herein are mineral mixtures which can be used to produce the mineral-based composites, as well as products, such as plantable containers, formed from the mineral-based composites and which degrade when buried.

A drop seeder apparatus includes a frame and a bottom plate having a plurality of through holes. A top plate has a plurality of through holes. The top plate is secured in the frame and positioned in a sliding relationship with respect to the bottom plate. A system of legs is configured to adjust a length thereof to accommodate seed trays of varying heights. A slide actuation system is configured to allow a user to slide the top plate across the bottom plate and cause the top plate to automatically return to a default trap position.

An apparatus for growing plants comprises two towers located adjacent to each other and forming an outside perimeter surface, a tray located in the bottom of the outside perimeter surface; and a cable system configured to pull a plurality of pods along the outside perimeter, each pod having containers, the cable system configured to bring at least one pod in a contact with a liquid located in the tray. A plant growth monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors, a plurality of distributors configured to distribute fertilizers in response to received commands, and a controller configured to receive a sensor data from the plurality of sensors, determine commands for a stage of growth of plants based on a sensor data received and transmit the commands to the distributors. A method of initiating a plant in preparation of its introduction into a vertical farm unit is also disclosed.

A flexible seedling tray with at least one carrier tab for lifting the seedling tray. The seedling tray has a plurality of upwardly tapered cells arranged in rows and columns. The cells can be connected or joined together across an upper terminus to which is attached the at least one carrier tab. When the seedling tray is lifted by the at least one carrier tab, the flexibility of the seedling tray and the taper of the cells causes the cells to come together, bringing the base surfaces together to form a stable arc across the bottom side. The force of the cells pressing against each other provides support and rigidity to the seedling tray for easier transport. When placed on a surface, the cells separate and are supported on the surface.

A seedling cube for growing seedlings, the seedling cube comprising a seedling tray having a plurality of cells and a branching table surrounded by the cells, and a cube lid having a water storage tank, which is configured to be disposed on top of the seedling tray.

[Problem to be Solved] Provided is a nursery pot body having stability over time, exhibiting suppressed decomposition during seedling raising, maintaining sufficient strength at the time of planting, and being rapidly degraded after planting in a field through enzyme treatment immediately before and/or immediately after planting.

[Solution] Base paper for a nursery pot body is characterized in that a biodegradable resin layer is provided on at least one surface of a paper substrate, wherein the biodegradable resin layer contains at least 15 mass % of a polylactic acid relative to 100 mass % of a biodegradable resin composition, and a nursery pot body is produced by molding the base paper.

A method for generating new varieties of Cannabis plants with modified growth and cannabinoid phytochemical profiles includes subjecting plant parts of one or more Cannabis plants to pectinase digestion to release plant cells, centrifuging the released plant cells to obtain pelleted cells, and providing the pelleted cells on culture media. The pelleted cells are plated on a first culture media, which is a Murashige and Skoog or Gamborg B5 callus culture media.

An automated plant cultivation system is provided having multi-tiered vertically arranged horizontal magazine structures each employing seed or plant capsules with a fluid circulation and illumination and communication network controlled by an on-board processor. Particularly, the system includes a magazine structure having seed/plant capsules within seed/plant reservoirs alternately arranged between at least one of a light source substantially concealed from direct viewing. A fluid channel extends across a long axis of the magazine structure, wherein the magazine structure is adapted for use of seed/plant capsules with nutrient composite plant growth cultivation, hydroponic plant growth cultivation, aeroponic plant growth cultivation methods or combinations thereof.

An automated plant cultivation system is provided having multi-tiered vertically arranged horizontal magazine structures each employing seed or plant capsules with a fluid circulation and illumination and communication network controlled by an on-board processor. Particularly, the system includes a magazine structure having seed/plant capsules within seed/plant reservoirs alternately arranged between at least one of a light source substantially concealed from direct viewing. A fluid channel extends across a long axis of the magazine structure, wherein the magazine structure is adapted for use of seed/plant capsules with nutrient composite plant growth cultivation, hydroponic plant growth cultivation, aeroponic plant growth cultivation methods or combinations thereof.

An automated plant cultivation system operating seed or plant capsule(s) and/or capsule(s) retaining casing(s) capable of controlling the growing environment of each plant capsule throughout the plant life cycle wherein the capsule(s) can be adapted to operate under any irrigation method.