The present disclosure provides a seeding formulation for woody plants and a pre-treatment of surfaces (e.g. rocks, waste rocks, tailings, overburden) on disturbed and degraded lands. The seeding formulation includes a mix of woody trees or shrubs seeds, organic mulch, beneficial microbial populations, mineral fertilizer, adhesive, absorbent polymer, and water. The pre-treatment of surfaces refers to the spreading or mixing of surfaces with organic biomass. Methods of preparing and applying the seeding formulation and pre-treatment are also disclosed. The formulation is used for the phytoremediation, ecological restoration, land reclamation, environmental rehabilitation, revitalization, revegetation, and reforestation of disturbed and degraded lands.

The present disclosure provides a seeding formulation for woody plants and a pre-treatment of surfaces (e.g. rocks, waste rocks, tailings, overburden) on disturbed and degraded lands. The seeding formulation includes a mix of woody trees or shrubs seeds, organic mulch, beneficial microbial populations, mineral fertilizer, adhesive, absorbent polymer, and water. The pre-treatment of surfaces refers to the spreading or mixing of surfaces with organic biomass. Methods of preparing and applying the seeding formulation and pre-treatment are also disclosed. The formulation is used for the phytoremediation, ecological restoration, land reclamation, environmental rehabilitation, revitalization, revegetation, and reforestation of disturbed and degraded lands.

The present application relates to novel soilless pre-vegetated mats comprising a carrier mat comprised of a material that does not degrade under exterior growing conditions, and vegetation whose roots intertwine within and under the carrier mat. The present application also relates to processes for production of the soilless pre-vegetated mats.

A dual-media horticultural plug comprising a base having a substantially continuous bottom surface and a top surface spaced from the bottom surface, a sidewall extending from the base and forming an elongated inner cavity, a growing substrate substantially filling the elongated inner cavity, and a water-impermeable outer cover substantially covering an open top end of the elongated inner cavity. The growing substrate comprises a first growing medium having a first water holding capacity, and at least one of the base and the sidewall comprise a second growing medium having a second water holding capacity. The first water holding capacity is greater than the second water holding capacity.

The present disclosure relates to a method of sequestering carbon dioxide which comprises the steps of capturing carbon dioxide from an industrial gaseous waste stream and/or the atmosphere, converting a CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 gas stream into a (COOH).sub.2 and combining the (COOH).sub.2, a mono-alcohol (X-OH), preferably CH.sub.3CH.sub.2OH, and a first acid catalyst comprising a H.sub.2SO.sub.4 at a temperature ranging from about 80? C. to about 100? C. and under atmospheric pressure to produce an ester comprising a (COOX).sub.2 and preferably (COOEt).sub.2; and the ester obtained is reacted with a polyol, preferably glycerine to form a polyester, preferably the polyester is a hydrogel. The present disclosure further relates to the use of a hydrogel which is obtainable by said method.

A mineral wool batt for use as a plant growth medium, particularly in applications for growing vegetation (including plants) in which water retention and/or the avoidance of water run-off is of interest. The mineral wool batt has an absorbent layer which comprises needled mineral wool fibres; superabsorbent particles in the absorbent layer may be sandwiched between a denser upper and/or lower barrier layer(s) which assist in preventing their escape.

The present invention relates to a method for producing polymers that are suitable for absorbing and storing aqueous liquids, and to polymers that can be obtained by this method. This invention further related to the use of such polymers. The method comprises the following steps: i. crosslinking free-radical polymerization of a monomer composition M comprising a) at least one monomer A having an ethylenic double bond and at least one neutralizable acid group or a group hydrolyzable to a neutralizable acid group, b) optionally one or more comonomers B which are different than the monomers A and have one ethylenic double bond, and c) 0.05 to 10% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers A and B, of at least one crosslinker C, in the presence of at least one polysaccharide-comprising substance S, in an aqueous liquid, where the weight ratio of the monomer composition M to the substance S is in the range from 9:1 to 1:9; and ii. at least partial neutralization of the acid groups and/or hydrolysis of the groups hydrolyzable to neutralizable acid groups in the polymer obtained in step i.;
wherein the polymerization and/or the neutralization is performed in the presence of urea.

Water-retaining gel compositions, methods of making water-retaining gel compositions, and the uses thereof for enhancing soils, preparing plant growth media and facilitating the growth of plants therein are disclosed.

Compositions and methods that relate to a biopolymer medium for growing plants. In certain embodiments, the biopolymer growth medium comprises or consists essentially of polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) or a mixture of them. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of producing a biopolymer growth medium.

The present invention provides compositions, kits and methods for growing more vigorous, larger and healthier plants, including from clone cuttings.