In various embodiments, an apparatus for growing plants is provided. The apparatus may include an irrigation apparatus, an accommodating space for accommodating one or more seed mats, and a controller which is configured to control the irrigation apparatus by a program controller. The irrigation apparatus includes a water circuit system for feeding water to the seed mats. The water circuit system includes at least one inlet, a water tank, at least one water circuit pump and at least one outlet. The irrigation apparatus includes a sensor which is configured to determine a conductance of the fed water.

In various embodiments, an apparatus for growing plants is provided. The apparatus may include an irrigation apparatus, an accommodating space for accommodating one or more seed mats, and a controller which is configured to control the irrigation apparatus by a program controller. The irrigation apparatus includes a water circuit system for feeding water to the seed mats. The water circuit system includes at least one inlet, a water tank, at least one water circuit pump and at least one outlet. The irrigation apparatus includes a sensor which is configured to determine a conductance of the fed water.

A seedling nursery member for grafting according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes at least one seedling nursery unit. At least one seedling nursery unit includes a stem storage section configured to store a stem of a plant and a stem holder configured to hold the stem of the plant. At least a portion of the stem storage section of the at least one seedling nursery unit is configured to be openable so as to allow communication between an inside of the stem storage section and an outside of the at least one seedling nursery unit in a direction different from a growth direction of the plant.

A method of growing plants in a coherent growth substrate product is provided and includes: providing at least one coherent growth substrate product comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition; positioning one or more seeds, seedlings, cuttings or plants in contact with the growth substrate product; and irrigating the growth substrate product. The aqueous binder composition prior to curing includes a component (i) in the form of one or more oxidized lignins, a component (ii) in the form of one or more cross-linkers, and a component (iii) in the form of one or more plasticizers.

Versions of the disclosure relate to multilayer flats for germinating seeds and growing plants in aeroponic or hydroponic farming. The multilayer structure can include a soilless growth medium sandwiched between a support layer and a light barrier layer. The support layer includes openings that allow plant roots to be sprayed with a nutrient solution and the light barrier layer includes openings that allow plants to develop while limiting the growth of harmful algae on the soilless growth medium.

Versions of the disclosure relate to multilayer flats for germinating seeds and growing plants in aeroponic or hydroponic farming. The multilayer structure can include a soilless growth medium sandwiched between a support layer and a light barrier layer. The support layer includes openings that allow plant roots to be sprayed with a nutrient solution and the light barrier layer includes openings that allow plants to develop while limiting the growth of harmful algae on the soilless growth medium.

The present invention provides a nursery block, including a nutritive block for providing nutrients to seeds. The top of the nutritive block is provided with a seed placement pit. The seed placement pit is internally provided with a seed cultivation pit. The seed placement pit is of a structure with a big top and a small bottom so that the seeds fall into the seed cultivation pit along the surface of the seed placement pit under the action of gravity. The seed cultivation pit is internally provided with a notch which extends in a direction away from the seed cultivation pit and provides growth paths for root systems of the seeds. The present invention can improve the sowing efficiency, stabilize and moisten seeds and improve the overall germination rate and germination uniformity of the seeds, and is convenient for mechanized sowing.

The present invention provides a nursery block, including a nutritive block for providing nutrients to seeds. The top of the nutritive block is provided with a seed placement pit. The seed placement pit is internally provided with a seed cultivation pit. The seed placement pit is of a structure with a big top and a small bottom so that the seeds fall into the seed cultivation pit along the surface of the seed placement pit under the action of gravity. The seed cultivation pit is internally provided with a notch which extends in a direction away from the seed cultivation pit and provides growth paths for root systems of the seeds. The present invention can improve the sowing efficiency, stabilize and moisten seeds and improve the overall germination rate and germination uniformity of the seeds, and is convenient for mechanized sowing.

A straw-based pot body blanket seedling growth substrate using straw fibres as a framework, utilising an enhancer, a retention aid and a wet strength agent as additives, and being prepared from composite decomposed livestock manure, perlite and vermiculite, the addition amount of the straw fibres being 60-70 v/v %, the addition amount of the decomposed livestock manure being 5-10 v/v %, the addition amount of the perlite being 5-10 v/v %, the addition amount of the vermiculite being 5-10 v/v %. The pot body blanket seedling growth substrate is suitable for cutting and easily implementing fully automated transplantation, is beneficial for root growth, shortens seeding growth periods, and increases seedling growth bed emergence rates. The pot body blanket seedling growth substrate may be applied to solanaceae seedling growth, and can also provide a block-shaped substrate for landscape flowers and plants in a three-dimensional arrangements.

A straw-based pot body blanket seedling growth substrate using straw fibres as a framework, utilising an enhancer, a retention aid and a wet strength agent as additives, and being prepared from composite decomposed livestock manure, perlite and vermiculite, the addition amount of the straw fibres being 60-70 v/v %, the addition amount of the decomposed livestock manure being 5-10 v/v %, the addition amount of the perlite being 5-10 v/v %, the addition amount of the vermiculite being 5-10 v/v %. The pot body blanket seedling growth substrate is suitable for cutting and easily implementing fully automated transplantation, is beneficial for root growth, shortens seeding growth periods, and increases seedling growth bed emergence rates. The pot body blanket seedling growth substrate may be applied to solanaceae seedling growth, and can also provide a block-shaped substrate for landscape flowers and plants in a three-dimensional arrangements.