A medium for water culture has a porous substance and photocatalyst particles formed of titanium-based compound particles that are supported on the porous substance, have absorption at a wavelength of 500 nm in a visible absorption spectrum, and have an absorption peak at 2,700 cm1 to 3,000 cm1 in an infrared absorption spectrum, in which a metal compound having a metal atom and a hydrocarbon group is bonded to the surface of each of the titanium-based compound particles through an oxygen atom.

A coherent growth substrate product formed of man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured binder composition and a wetting agent is described, wherein the binder composition prior to curing comprises the following components: a component (i) in the form of one or more compounds selected from compounds of the formula (I), and any salts thereof: in which R1 corresponds to H, alkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, polyhydroxyalkyl, alkylene, alkoxy, amine; compounds of the formula (II), and any salts thereof: in which R2 corresponds to H, alkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, polyhydroxyalkyl, alkylene, alkoxy, amine; a component (ii) in the form of one or more compounds selected from the group of ammonia, amines or any salts thereof; a component (iii) in the form of one or more carbohydrates. Use of said coherent growth substrate product for growing plants and propagating seeds is also disclosed. In addition, a process for making said coherent growth substrate product is disclosed.

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A transplanting device separates a seedling bed piece with a seedling from a seedling bed along slits and transplants the separated seedling bed piece to a permanent planting panel. The transplanting device includes a separating mechanism and a transplanting mechanism. The separating mechanism includes a holding member and is capable of separating the seedling bed piece from the seedling bed. The transplanting mechanism is capable of transplanting the separated seedling bed piece to the permanent planting panel. The separating mechanism includes an engagement bar capable of hampering movement of an adjacent seedling bed piece adjacent to a holding-target seedling bed piece held by the holding member by becoming engaged with the adjacent seedling bed piece from a side that is different from a first side, on which the stalk of the seedling grows.

The invention relates to growing medium structures comprising Sphagnum moss, to a foam-laid method for their manufacture and to the use thereof in horticulture, landscaping and forestry applications.

In order to provide an efficient hydroponic cultivation system, the disclosure provides a hydroponic cultivation system comprising a plurality of vessels extending in a predetermined direction; a plant holding plate that holds a plant and is disposed to span across the plurality of vessels; and a support mechanism provided between vessels adjacent to each other among the plurality of vessels, wherein each of the plurality of vessels is configured to contain a culture solution required for the growth of the plant, and the support mechanism supports the plant holding plate above the plurality of vessels.

In order to provide an efficient hydroponic cultivation system, the disclosure provides a hydroponic cultivation system comprising a plurality of vessels extending in a predetermined direction; a plant holding plate that holds a plant and is disposed to span across the plurality of vessels; and a support mechanism provided between vessels adjacent to each other among the plurality of vessels, wherein each of the plurality of vessels is configured to contain a culture solution required for the growth of the plant, and the support mechanism supports the plant holding plate above the plurality of vessels.

A method and apparatus for cultivating vegetation at an arid location includes rooting immature vegetation in a mat combined with a super absorbent polymer (SAP) and, in embodiments, fertilizer, sand, and/or soil; placing the mat at the arid location; covering the mat with a perforated, transparent or semi-transparent cover; collecting urine in a water purification system; and providing purified water extracted from the urine to the mat. A water barrier can be placed below the mat. The cover can be placed on or suspended above the mat. SAP, seeds, and/or additional water barriers can be placed between mats in a stack. The opacity of the cover can be increased to emulate shade from natural vegetation. A water distribution system can be included for continued support of the vegetation, and can include a water reservoir and/or at least one solar still.

A method and apparatus for cultivating vegetation at an arid location includes rooting immature vegetation in a mat combined with a super absorbent polymer (SAP) and, in embodiments, fertilizer, sand, and/or soil; placing the mat at the arid location; covering the mat with a perforated, transparent or semi-transparent cover; collecting urine in a water purification system; and providing purified water extracted from the urine to the mat. A water barrier can be placed below the mat. The cover can be placed on or suspended above the mat. SAP, seeds, and/or additional water barriers can be placed between mats in a stack. The opacity of the cover can be increased to emulate shade from natural vegetation. A water distribution system can be included for continued support of the vegetation, and can include a water reservoir and/or at least one solar still.

There is provided a solid shape information generation system to form a solid shape object suitable to cultivate a plant. The solid shape information generation system includes a forming information generator that generates forming information to form a solid shape object used to cultivate a plant using a first material and a second material based on information representing the solid shape object and form an area where at least the plant is sown using the first material whose tensile strength is lower than that of the second material; and an output unit that outputs the forming information for a solid shape forming unit to form the solid shape object.

A fixed irrigation landscape growing system comprises: a supporting substrate; a water absorbent blanket arranged above the substrate; and a growing medium, notably a soil layer, arranged above the water absorbent blanket. Irrigation is provided by irrigation pipes or by sprinklers.