A rotational sprouter system, is disclosed including: a chamber comprising an opening; a porous end cap that is configured to engage the opening of the chamber; a reservoir; wherein the chamber and the porous end cap are at least partially submerged in the reservoir such that an interior of the chamber is in communication with the reservoir via the porous end cap; and wherein the porous end cap is adapted to engage a drive mechanism that is configured to rotate the chamber and the porous end cap while the chamber and the porous end cap are at least partially submerged in the reservoir.

A rotational sprouter system, is disclosed including: a chamber comprising an opening; a porous end cap that is configured to engage the opening of the chamber; a reservoir; wherein the chamber and the porous end cap are at least partially submerged in the reservoir such that an interior of the chamber is in communication with the reservoir via the porous end cap; and wherein the porous end cap is adapted to engage a drive mechanism that is configured to rotate the chamber and the porous end cap while the chamber and the porous end cap are at least partially submerged in the reservoir.

An agricultural machine includes a seeding system having a seed transport mechanism configured to transport a seed along a transport route. A terahertz-based seed sensor is configured to direct terahertz electromagnetic radiation toward the seed at a sensing location along the transport route and detect terahertz electromagnetic radiation after the terahertz electromagnetic radiation interacts with the seed to provide terahertz data. An actuator is configured to selectively move the seed. A processing system is configured to receive the terahertz data and classify the seed as qualified or non-qualified and to selectively engage the actuator based on whether the seed is classified as qualified or non-qualified.

A farming method may be shown and described. In an exemplary embodiment, plants may begin in a germination phase. Next, plants are brought to a nursery for a period of time before optionally being transplanted to one or more subsequent nurseries. Finally, plants are transplanted to a greenhouse where they may grow until they are ready for harvest. In an exemplary embodiment, the nursery phases may be vertical farms while the greenhouse phase may be a traditional, hydroponic, or other type of farm which may receive sunlight. AI may be implemented to optimize environmental conditions and robotics may be used to harvest the plants. Plants may be indexed to efficiently expedite plant growth and optimize the time and plant density/spacing in each phase.

A farming method may be shown and described. In an exemplary embodiment, plants may begin in a germination phase. Next, plants are brought to a nursery for a period of time before optionally being transplanted to one or more subsequent nurseries. Finally, plants are transplanted to a greenhouse where they may grow until they are ready for harvest. In an exemplary embodiment, the nursery phases may be vertical farms while the greenhouse phase may be a traditional, hydroponic, or other type of farm which may receive sunlight. AI may be implemented to optimize environmental conditions and robotics may be used to harvest the plants. Plants may be indexed to efficiently expedite plant growth and optimize the time and plant density/spacing in each phase.

The invention tracks and automatically evaluates plant traits of individuals of plant canopy in a growth process of a germination period (from sowing until immediately prior to primary seedling culture), at a plant factory with artificial lighting. Specifically, a two-dimensional distribution of the plant traits is calculated by non-destructively and continuously measuring plant trait information in the growth process of the germination period, on the basis of image information 2a, environmental factor information 2b, genetic characteristic information 2c, and management information 2d. In addition, physiological performance reactions of the individuals of plant canopy cultivated in an environmentally-controlled closed space are continuously measured, and measurements are continuously taken of the two-dimensional distribution of the environmental factor information, and items such as temperature, vapor pressure deficit, nutrient solution percentage, nutrient solution temperature, pH, and electric conductivity.

The invention tracks and automatically evaluates plant traits of individuals of plant canopy in a growth process of a germination period (from sowing until immediately prior to primary seedling culture), at a plant factory with artificial lighting. Specifically, a two-dimensional distribution of the plant traits is calculated by non-destructively and continuously measuring plant trait information in the growth process of the germination period, on the basis of image information 2a, environmental factor information 2b, genetic characteristic information 2c, and management information 2d. In addition, physiological performance reactions of the individuals of plant canopy cultivated in an environmentally-controlled closed space are continuously measured, and measurements are continuously taken of the two-dimensional distribution of the environmental factor information, and items such as temperature, vapor pressure deficit, nutrient solution percentage, nutrient solution temperature, pH, and electric conductivity.

A rotational sprouter system, is disclosed including: a chamber comprising an opening; a porous end cap that is configured to engage the opening of the chamber; a reservoir; wherein the chamber and the porous end cap are at least partially submerged in the reservoir such that an interior of the chamber is in communication with the reservoir via the porous end cap; and wherein the porous end cap is adapted to engage a drive mechanism that is configured to rotate the chamber and the porous end cap while the chamber and the porous end cap are at least partially submerged in the reservoir.

A rotational sprouter system, is disclosed including: a chamber comprising an opening; a porous end cap that is configured to engage the opening of the chamber; a reservoir; wherein the chamber and the porous end cap are at least partially submerged in the reservoir such that an interior of the chamber is in communication with the reservoir via the porous end cap; and wherein the porous end cap is adapted to engage a drive mechanism that is configured to rotate the chamber and the porous end cap while the chamber and the porous end cap are at least partially submerged in the reservoir.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for large scale, high throughput phenotyping of items including plants to derive environment/genetics correlations based on controlled variation of environment. Spatial and temporal resolution is improved by an integrated system that can use space efficiently yet concurrently process a large number of replicates but in varying environments. This is accomplished by using an array of miniature greenhouses, each in communication with one or more generators or regulators of an environmental factor that can be independently supplied and controlled to each miniature greenhouse. The controller also controls acquisition of data from each greenhouse as well as processing of that data into phenomic/genomic correlations.