A porous glass plant growth support structure, including a porous glass substrate and a plurality of interconnected pores distributed throughout the substrate. The substrate is typically formed from foamed glass and/or fused glass spheres and is characterized by a porosity of at least about 80 percent. The pore size is substantially between about 0.2 and about 5 millimeters and the substrate is sufficiently chemically stable such that water filling the plurality of interconnected pores experiences a pH shift of less than 0.5.

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.

A soil improver for increasing the liquid storage capacity of soils made of a plastic foam, the plastic foam having at least predominantly open cells, characterized in that the plastic foam has a raw density of 5 to 15 kg/m.sup.3. The invention also relates to a method for producing a plastic foam of such a soil improver.

A soil improver for increasing the liquid storage capacity of soils made of a plastic foam, the plastic foam having at least predominantly open cells, characterized in that the plastic foam has a raw density of 5 to 15 kg/m.sup.3. The invention also relates to a method for producing a plastic foam of such a soil improver.

A synthetic soil substrate system has a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers that are individually designed to promote plant growth as the roots grow into the layer and as a function of the growth stage. The synthetic soil substrate layers may be planar or may be concentrically arranged with a first synthetic soil substrate ring layer being configured inside of a second synthetic soil substrate ring layer. A synthetic soil substrate has pores that are configured for plant growth and retention and/or deliver of water and growth additives. The average pore size of a first synthetic soil substrate layer may be substantially different from the average pore size of an adjacent synthetic soil substrate layer. Also, the pore structure or shape of the pores may be different between synthetic soil substrate layers, The synthetic soil substrate may have an integral growth additive retained in the pores.

A synthetic soil substrate system has a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers that are individually designed to promote plant growth as the roots grow into the layer and as a function of the growth stage. The synthetic soil substrate layers may be planar or may be concentrically arranged with a first synthetic soil substrate ring layer being configured inside of a second synthetic soil substrate ring layer. A synthetic soil substrate has pores that are configured for plant growth and retention and/or deliver of water and growth additives. The average pore size of a first synthetic soil substrate layer may be substantially different from the average pore size of an adjacent synthetic soil substrate layer. Also, the pore structure or shape of the pores may be different between synthetic soil substrate layers, The synthetic soil substrate may have an integral growth additive retained in the pores.

The invention is a plant cultivation system for growing plants in or on a body of water. The system includes a plant support that is at least partially buoyant in the water or sinks below a surface of the water. The system further includes a plurality of plant seeds positioned on a top surface of the support. The seeds germinate and grow into plants within the structure, using the body of water as a nutrient source. Advantageously, as the plants grow, they remove pollutants from the water, such as nitrogen and phosphorous. As a result, nutrient pollution from the water is reduced and cultural eutrophication is reversed, thereby preventing deadly algal blooms, and increasing the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

A growing medium for a plant production apparatus utilized in greenhouse crop production is provided. The growing medium comprises a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material wherein the media material is constructed from a plastic material.

A growing medium for a plant production apparatus utilized in greenhouse crop production is provided. The growing medium comprises a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material wherein the media material is constructed from a plastic material.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a solid foam, wherein the method comprises depositing discrete units of a foam on a surface to obtain a first foam deposition, followed by depositing a wet foam between the discrete units to obtain a subsequent foam deposition, and drying the wet foam. The invention further relates to a solid foam comprising discrete units of foam embedded in a foam matrix.