Soil plant productivity is improved by manipulation of soil microflora. The soil microflora is manipulated by addition of a bacterium belonging to Rhizobium (Rhizobiales) to the soil.

A system (10,11) for controlling plant growth conditions in hydroponic growing systems, the system for controlling plant growth conditions comprising: at least one detector (7,1101) for measuring at least one property of a plant growth substrate; first (9,1103) and second (9,12, 1107) data processing means; data storage means (1120); and the or each detector (7,1101) being arranged to measure a property or properties of a plant growth substrate and to transmit a detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communications link to the first data processing means; the first data processing means (9,1103) being arranged to: hold in a memory predefined irrigation data defining a relationship between: plural values for one or more of temperature, pH level, water content, nutrient content, oxygen content, and plant parameters of the substrate; and plural desired irrigation parameters; process measured properties received from each detector to obtain processed properties of the substrate; provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate, based upon the processed properties and the predefined irrigation data; and send processed data to the data storage means (1120), the data storage means arranged to store the sent data as logged data; the second data processing means (9, 12, 1107) being arranged to: receive data from the data storage means (1120); calculate predicted properties of the substrate based on the logged data; determine a difference between the processed properties of the substrate and the predicted properties of the substrate; receive an alert condition input for outputting an alert based on said difference; and output an alert when said difference meets the alert condition.

A system (10,11) for controlling plant growth conditions in hydroponic growing systems, the system for controlling plant growth conditions comprising: at least one detector (7,1101) for measuring at least one property of a plant growth substrate; first (9,1103) and second (9,12, 1107) data processing means; data storage means (1120); and the or each detector (7,1101) being arranged to measure a property or properties of a plant growth substrate and to transmit a detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communications link to the first data processing means; the first data processing means (9,1103) being arranged to: hold in a memory predefined irrigation data defining a relationship between: plural values for one or more of temperature, pH level, water content, nutrient content, oxygen content, and plant parameters of the substrate; and plural desired irrigation parameters; process measured properties received from each detector to obtain processed properties of the substrate; provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate, based upon the processed properties and the predefined irrigation data; and send processed data to the data storage means (1120), the data storage means arranged to store the sent data as logged data; the second data processing means (9, 12, 1107) being arranged to: receive data from the data storage means (1120); calculate predicted properties of the substrate based on the logged data; determine a difference between the processed properties of the substrate and the predicted properties of the substrate; receive an alert condition input for outputting an alert based on said difference; and output an alert when said difference meets the alert condition.

The present invention relates to the production of propagation plugs, primarily small blocks of sphagnum for the growing of cuttings and seed plants, and of the type consisting of a cylindrical block having an envelope of paper or a similar material and an associated filling of sphagnum or a corresponding substrate material. The paper is an air permeable composite sheet material comprising a) a biodegradable nonwoven sheet material; and b) a hot melt adhesive comprising at least 50% w/w of one or more biodegradable bioplastics. The hot melt adhesive is supplied to at least a part of a face of the biodegradable nonwoven sheet material.

The present invention relates to the production of propagation plugs, primarily small blocks of sphagnum for the growing of cuttings and seed plants, and of the type consisting of a cylindrical block having an envelope of paper or a similar material and an associated filling of sphagnum or a corresponding substrate material. The paper is an air permeable composite sheet material comprising a) a biodegradable nonwoven sheet material; and b) a hot melt adhesive comprising at least 50% w/w of one or more biodegradable bioplastics. The hot melt adhesive is supplied to at least a part of a face of the biodegradable nonwoven sheet material.

A method is disclosed. The method includes providing a first movable assembly that is movable between a first location and a second location of a structure, providing a second movable assembly that is movable between a third location and a fourth location of the structure, and disposing a first growth material in the first movable assembly and a second growth material in the second movable assembly. The method also includes illuminating the first growth material from a first position at the first location at a first time and from a second position at the second location at a second time, and illuminating the second growth material from a third position at the third location at the first time and from a fourth position at the fourth location at the second time.

A method is disclosed. The method includes providing a first movable assembly that is movable between a first location and a second location of a structure, providing a second movable assembly that is movable between a third location and a fourth location of the structure, and disposing a first growth material in the first movable assembly and a second growth material in the second movable assembly. The method also includes illuminating the first growth material from a first position at the first location at a first time and from a second position at the second location at a second time, and illuminating the second growth material from a third position at the third location at the first time and from a fourth position at the fourth location at the second time.

This disclosure relates to compositions, containers, systems, assemblies, and related methods for cultivation and shipping of live and growing plants. The compositions, containers, systems, assemblies, and related methods disclosed herein provide additional stability for a plant's growing environment and enable prolonged storage and shipping shelf life while also reducing or eliminating the need for refrigeration.

This disclosure relates to compositions, containers, systems, assemblies, and related methods for cultivation and shipping of live and growing plants. The compositions, containers, systems, assemblies, and related methods disclosed herein provide additional stability for a plant's growing environment and enable prolonged storage and shipping shelf life while also reducing or eliminating the need for refrigeration.

A composition and method for making microalgae pre-charged biochar for use in soil is disclosed. The composition comprises raw biochar and a liquid microalgae composition, wherein the liquid microalgae composition comprises dead pasteurized Chlorella microalgae cells and nutrients that are beneficial to the soil; such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and sodium. The raw biochar and liquid microalgae composition are combined to create a pre-charging mixture, which is then incubated for between 12-24 hours, and dried. The pre-charged biochar is then buried within the vicinity of a fruiting plant, seedling, or seed; between approximately 2-6 deep within the soil.