A method and apparatus for cultivating vegetation at an inhospitable location includes rooting immature vegetation in a mat combined with a super absorbent polymer (“SAP”) and, in embodiments, fertilizer, sand, and/or soil; providing a water reservoir below grade at the inhospitable location; placing the mat at the inhospitable location over the water reservoir; extending at least one wick from the mat to the water reservoir; and covering the mat with a perforated, transparent or semi-transparent cover. The wick can be infused with nutrients and/or fertilizer. Hollow tubes can extend downward from the mat to enable excess water to flow into the reservoir. The hollow tubes can surround the wicks. The transparent cover can be placed on or suspended above the mat. SAP, seeds, and/or fertilizer can be placed between mats in a stack. A water distribution system can be included for supplying additional water to the water reservoir.

The invention provides a process for the preparation of a seed support that comprises a biodegradable polymer film having a plurality of seeds at least partially embedded therein, the process comprising the steps of (a) providing a hydrophobic release liner (18); (b) applying a coating of an aqueous dispersion or solution comprising a biodegradable polymer on the hydrophobic release liner (18), wherein the dispersion or solution has a viscosity of from 2000 to 16000 mPa.Math.s and a water content of from 58% to 90% by weight of the coating; (c) depositing a plurality of seeds onto the coating so that the seeds become at least partially embedded in the coating; (d) drying the coating to give a final water content of 1.5% to 15% by weight and thereby form the biodegradable polymer film; and (e) detaching the hydrophobic release liner from the biodegradable polymer film to give the seed support.

A gel plug comprised of a gel may be used for growth of plants. The gel may include two polysaccharide components, with a second of the two components providing increased rigidity Plants may be grown, including from seed, in the gel plug.

A composite, time-delayed, polymer-coated, granulated material for maintaining hydration in plants is formulated to delay acceptance of water in order to operate in drilling, plugging, and disking equipment used for aeration, soil amendment, or both. Whether potted or outdoors, whether relying on a third-material binder or a small, hydrated portion of the polymer itself as a binder, the material may be injected or otherwise placed below the surface of soils. Water is eventually absorbed sufficiently to expose the bulk of the hydrating particles attached to each granule. Addition of the granulated material as a soil amendment resists dehydration normally occurring in plants between waterings, yet its initial delay in hydrating supports water-jet injection and soil integration by resisting premature expansion from hydration.

A composite, time-delayed, polymer-coated, granulated material for maintaining hydration in plants is formulated to delay acceptance of water in order to operate in drilling, plugging, and disking equipment used for aeration, soil amendment, or both. Whether potted or outdoors, whether relying on a third-material binder or a small, hydrated portion of the polymer itself as a binder, the material may be injected or otherwise placed below the surface of soils. Water is eventually absorbed sufficiently to expose the bulk of the hydrating particles attached to each granule. Addition of the granulated material as a soil amendment resists dehydration normally occurring in plants between waterings, yet its initial delay in hydrating supports water-jet injection and soil integration by resisting premature expansion from hydration.

The present invention provides a slope repair method. The method includes pretreating a slope, so that an average roughness of the pretreated slope is not greater than ±8 cm to ±12 cm per linear meter; (2) hanging a hard protective mesh on the pretreated slope, where the distance between the hard protective mesh and the slope is 3-4 cm, and the hard protective mesh has an aperture size of 4-6 cm; and (3) spraying a loam-like matrix on the slope with the hard protective mesh hanged, where the loam-like matrix includes not less than 0.04/m.sup.2 of plant seeds; the plant seeds include tree seeds, shrub seeds and herb seeds with a mass ratio of (2.5-3.5):(4-6):(1.5-2.5). The method provided by the present invention effectively restores the mountain vegetation, and only needs 1-2 years of artificial maintenance after the restoration to form a cyclically stable ecosystem.

The present invention provides a slope repair method. The method includes pretreating a slope, so that an average roughness of the pretreated slope is not greater than ±8 cm to ±12 cm per linear meter; (2) hanging a hard protective mesh on the pretreated slope, where the distance between the hard protective mesh and the slope is 3-4 cm, and the hard protective mesh has an aperture size of 4-6 cm; and (3) spraying a loam-like matrix on the slope with the hard protective mesh hanged, where the loam-like matrix includes not less than 0.04/m.sup.2 of plant seeds; the plant seeds include tree seeds, shrub seeds and herb seeds with a mass ratio of (2.5-3.5):(4-6):(1.5-2.5). The method provided by the present invention effectively restores the mountain vegetation, and only needs 1-2 years of artificial maintenance after the restoration to form a cyclically stable ecosystem.

Provided is a method of delivering water to a root system of a crop, the method including causing the crop to be adjacent to, or in a region of, soil containing hydrogel, and delivering air to the hydrogel.

A plant pot 1 comprises a bounding wall 2 formed by a side wall 3 and a bottom 5 and includes a gel space 7 in which swellable gel grains 9 are accommodated filling the gel space in swollen state. The plant pot further includes a substrate space 11 in which a substrate, for example, soil is accommodated. A bounding wall portion 2A, 2B bounds a part of the second space 11. Drainage openings 13 are located in the bottom 5 of this bounding wall portion 2B next to the gel space 7. The first space 7 is partly bounded by a further bounding wall portion 2D, 2E of the bounding wall 2. Aeration openings 14 are located in this further bounding wall portion. The gel grains 9 are contained in a pad which further includes a flexible separation sheet 15 which forms a root-permeable separation between the gel and soil during use.

An automated system for plant growth may include a reactor to make a hydrogel solution. A hopper with a processor controlled valve or valves may deliver components to make the hydrogel solution in the reactor. The hydrogel solution may be poured into a tray to create a hydrogel mat or a hydrogel plug. A conveyor may move the hydrogel mat or the hydrogel plug to a nursery on a path in which the hydrogel mat or the hydrogel plug is seeded and is dibbled or scratched. The nursery may include a first position for a seed to germinate in the hydrogel mat or the hydrogel plug, and a second position for a plant to grow to a harvest state in the hydrogel mat or the hydrogel plug. The nursery may include a plurality of LED lights suitable for growth of a plant from the germinated seed.