A system for an assembly line grow pod includes a germination hub including a tank, a water source in selective fluid communication with the tank, a pump in selective fluid communication with the tank and the water source, a pod line in selective fluid communication with the germination hub, a seeder assembly in selective fluid communication with the pod line, the seeder assembly including a seeder tank, and a metering device in selective fluid communication with the seeder tank, where the metering device selectively releases seeds from the seeder tank, and a cart positioned below the metering device.

A plant holder includes at least one cell which defines a plant position and which is configured to receive plant material during use. A clamp includes a clamping position in which plant material is to be clamped in the cell and an open position in which plant material is to be arranged in and/or removed from the clamp. The clamp is provided with at least one actuator which is configured to be engaged externally in order to open the clamp. A system includes such a plant holder. A method of processing a plant holder including a clamp, includes the steps of: opening the clamp; arranging plant material in the clamp and/or removing it therefrom; and closing the clamp.

A plant holder includes at least one cell which defines a plant position and which is configured to receive plant material during use. A clamp includes a clamping position in which plant material is to be clamped in the cell and an open position in which plant material is to be arranged in and/or removed from the clamp. The clamp is provided with at least one actuator which is configured to be engaged externally in order to open the clamp. A system includes such a plant holder. A method of processing a plant holder including a clamp, includes the steps of: opening the clamp; arranging plant material in the clamp and/or removing it therefrom; and closing the clamp.

An adjustable seedling pick-up end effector for automatically transplanting plug seedlings is provided includes two clamping fingers installed symmetrically along a direction of a center line, support frames respectively connected adjustably to the clamping fingers, and a mechanical arm fixedly connected to the support frames. The mechanical arm is constructed to drive a clamping pin mechanism to execute actions of prying, grabbing, and quickly releasing the plug seedlings, and the adjustment of the opening degree and the clamping angle of the clamping pin mechanism is realized by adopting the adjustably connected support frames. The end effector can be actively opened and closed to grab and release the plug seedlings, provide a larger space to accommodate the plug seedlings so as not to damage the seedlings, and adjust the opening degree and the clamping angle, which can meet the seedling pick-up requirements for automatic transplanting of plug seedlings of various specifications.

A farming method may be shown and described. In an exemplary embodiment, plants may begin in a germination phase. Next, plants are brought to a nursery for a period of time before optionally being transplanted to one or more subsequent nurseries. Finally, plants are transplanted to a greenhouse where they may grow until they are ready for harvest. In an exemplary embodiment, the nursery phases may be vertical farms while the greenhouse phase may be a traditional, hydroponic, or other type of farm which may receive sunlight. AI may be implemented to optimize environmental conditions and robotics may be used to harvest the plants. Plants may be indexed to efficiently expedite plant growth and optimize the time and plant density/spacing in each phase.

There is discussed a method of picking and placing bulbs, in which bulbs are supplied on a supply surface of a bulbs supply system; the bulbs being identified and picked from the supply surface with a pick-and-place head; wherein the bulbs are reoriented about a minor axis before being placed.

There is discussed a method of picking and placing bulbs, in which bulbs are supplied on a supply surface of a bulbs supply system; the bulbs being identified and picked from the supply surface with a pick-and-place head; wherein picked bulbs are transferred from the pick-and-place head, shoot-first and roots-last to a transfer-receptacle comprising at least one bulb-receptor, wherein the bulb-receptor temporarily clutches said bulb.

Provided are methods of inserting seedlings into soil plugs. The method includes: a) automatically identifying a target seedling located in a pick-up area using seedling detection apparatus; b) pick-up up the target seedling with an automated seedling handling apparatus; c) transporting the target seedling to an insertion area; d) providing a first soil plug in the insertion area to receive the target seedling, the first soil plug having a first plug end, a second plug end longitudinally spaced apart from the first plug end and a longitudinal slit extending from the first plug end toward the second plug end; e) spreading the slit in the first soil plug; f) inserting a root portion of the seedling into the slit while a stem portion of the seedling is positioned outside the first soil plug; and g) stripping the target seedling from the handling apparatus whereby the seedling remains received within the slit in the first soil plug.

Also provided are apparatuses and systems for inserting seedlings into soil plugs.

A method of potting a tree, wherein the method includes the steps of inserting the root system of the tree into the lumen of the pot, and supplying a particulate substrate to the pot to cover the root system using an apparatus including a supply system. To pot trees quicker, the supply system includes i) a buffer, and ii) at least one chute, wherein the method includes providing the buffer with a predetermined amount of particulate substrate, and batch-wise release of the particulate material in the buffer to provide the pot with the particulate material from the buffer via the at least one chute by gravity.

A seed level managing system includes a seed tank configured to contain seeds, a plurality of seed level sensors placed on a sidewall of the seed tank, a surface detecting sensor, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to receive first information from the plurality of seed level sensors; receive second information from the surface detecting sensor and determine a number of the seeds in the seed tank based on the first information and the second information.