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.

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; and covering the mat with a perforated, transparent or semi-transparent cover. Most or all of the apparatus can be biodegradable or removable, and the sand or soil can be similar to indigenous sand or soil. 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 netting material comprises a main portion and a netted window portion. The main portion has apertures of a first aperture size and shape, and the netted window portion has apertures of a second aperture size and shape. The apertures of the netted window portion are of sufficient size and shape to allow honey bees to pass through the netting material, whereas the apertures of the main portion are of sufficient size and shape to substantially prevent honey bees passing through the netting material.

A crop material is woven in a leno weave configuration from weft tapes and groups of warp elements, the warp elements in each group cross at a cross-over point between adjacent weft tapes, and the adjacent groups of warp elements spaced apart across the weft at a distance greater than about 8 mm.

An agricultural netting material has a construction profile across the width of the netting in which one or more construction elements varies across the width of the netting, a construction element in a first region of at least 20 cm width of the netting being different to the construction element in a second region of at least 20 cm width of the netting, the construction element being one of a yarn thickness, a yarn width, a yarn transmittance, a yarn pigmentation, a yarn reflectance, a yarn absorbance, a netting aperture size, a netting construction pattern and a netting cover factor.

A portable planter box especially adapted to be usable either in a commercial or residential environment, providing ease of access and internal irrigation. The device is adapted to be utilized in a minimum amount of space, and to be movable from one space to another. The planter box is uniquely designed to permit stacking and may be collapsed to permit ease of storage and transport to multiple locations.

A multi-faceted multi-task system for horticultural adaptations including water dispersion and irrigation, animal and plant/crop protection, and plant shading, which allows a user to operate an irrigation system or a radial misting apparatus while using a tarp for shade and construct a fence to create an animal control zone. The present device features a telescoping main pole that can be adjusted to different heights to fit any situation. The device is highly portable as it can be folded up onto itself and carried to a destination by hand and provides water dispersion for irrigation and temperature control, while offering users the opportunity to construct a shade and/or animal control zone. A ball containment system for athletic activities.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a humidity and temperature control system for use in the outdoor cultivation of fruits, as typically found in an orchard setting, with the additional aid of a sunshade. Embodiments include a climate control system with an efficient and controlled introduction of water vapor into an outdoor orchard employing a plurality of fogging type nozzles, coupled with an overarching porous solar shade enclosure.

The disclosure relates to a method of controlling a crop cultivation system (1), comprising creating an ontology (200) with a plurality of objects and relations between the objects. The objects include at least a space object (220) representing a cultivation space (11) of the cultivation system (1) for cultivating crops (2) therein, a crop object (210) representing one or more crops (2) for being cultivated in the cultivation space (11), one or more actuator objects representing one or more actuators of the cultivation system for use in cultivating the one or more crops (2), and a source object representing a source of the cultivation system. The method further comprises determining, based on the ontology (200), one or more control objectives for controlling the cultivation system (1) using the one or more actuators.

A rapid deployment plant protector having a polygonal umbrella cover having closed sleeves on a first side, open sleeves on an opposing side, and connection structure for joining an edge of a first of said polygonal umbrella cover with an edge of an adjoining polygonal umbrella cover; an umbrella hub; a plurality of cover stays corresponding in number to the number of said sleeves; and a vertical support on which said umbrella hub is disposed.