Abstract: A spraying apparatus for spraying agricultural chemicals over shrubbery and small size trees and plants in early stages of their growth positioned in arrays with empty areas therebetween, has a storage for an agricultural chemicals to be sprayed, a spraying assembly having the shape of an upside down “U” and provided with a plurality of spraying nozzles, a detector for detecting the presence of a plant, and an activator for activating the spraying nozzles, after the detector detects a plant, to spray the plant inside the spraying assembly, the spraying assembly having a substantially flat frame composed of a plurality of substantially flat elements.

Abstract: A wick applicator for applying agricultural liquid chemicals to crops, weeds and other vegetation. The wick applicator includes an elongated tube for holding and dispensing liquid chemicals. An air inlet extends from the tube and is communicatively open to the internal chamber of the tube. To meter or regulate the flow of liquid chemicals from the elongated tube, a non-variable fixed size orifice is disposed in the air inlet tube. In use, the wick applicator is useful in applying a growth regulating composition to the upper portion of a cotton crop. This is achieved by setting the wick applicator at a selected height and then moving it through a cotton field at that height and in the process, engaging and mopping the portion of any cotton crop in its path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for using microvariations of a biological living organism to generate a sequence of environmental changes perceptible through one of the human senses. The method includes the steps of transforming microvariations within a living organism into an analog electrical signal and generating the sequence of environmental changes perceptible through the human senses based on said analog signal. The sequence of changes can include the generation of music based on the signal, or the control of lighting, aromas, or air movement in the environment of the organism. One example application is the generation of music from electrical microvariations detected in a house plant.

Abstract: A method of destroying or controlling unwanted vegetation and agricultural pests is disclosed. The method produces a jet stream of treatment fluid, being mixed combustion gas and superheated or dry steam for application to thermally destroy unwanted vegetation and posts. The method involves the use of a hydrocarbon burner and a water source.

Abstract: A method for spraying a liquid on plants by means of a spraying assembly adapted for mounting on a pair of upper and lower wires parallel to each other. The spraying assembly comprises a sprayer having at least one nozzle adapted for fluid communication with a source of the liquid, and a sprayer holder. The sprayer holder comprises a rigid rod and upper and lower holder members mounted on the rod and having clamping means for being clamped to the respective upper and lower wires. One of the holder members has a sprayer seat for fixedly supporting the sprayer in a predetermined orientation relative to the rod.

Abstract: A method of assessing a state of a plant is provided. The method includes: (a) collecting data pertaining to at least one plant related parameter over a predetermined time period; and (b) analyzing the data collected over the predetermined time period to thereby identify a trend in the data over at least a portion of the predetermined time period, the trend being indicative of the state of the plant.

Abstract: A method and device for discriminating different types of ground vegetation in agriculture is disclosed in which an artificial source (24) of electromagnetic radiation is employed for directing a beam (26) of radiation onto the vegetation. A sensor assembly (30) is provided for detecting reflected radiation from the vegetation in a selected frequency band and generating a sensing signal in response to the detection. A logic controller (32) determines whether a magnitude of the sensing signal falls within a predetermined range of values in order to distinguish one type of vegetation from another type. In the near infred region of the electromagnetic spectum different types of weeds absorb significantly less infra-red radiation than other types of vegetation. Logic controller (32) compares the amplitude of the sensing signal with a decision window.

Abstract: A spray head for a spraying apparatus comprising a body formed as a conduit leading from an inlet end to a discharge end at which it forms a discharge pattern. A high velocity stream of air is injected into the head at its inlet end and flows through the conduit to its discharge end. Adjacent to the discharge end, a rank of injection nozzles injects liquid into the air stream, and adjacent to the nozzles, a rank of electrodes is formed as ports in the wall of the conduit.

Abstract: A spray hood assembly for containing the spray mist of pesticides or other liquid agricultural chemicals in an application area as the pesticide or other liquid is applied to soil or vegetation. In a preferred embodiment, the spray hood assembly includes an elongated hood characterized by a selected number of arcuate hood segments attached to each other in end-to-end relationship and mounted on a trailer hitched to a tractor or other towing vehicle. As the suspended hood migrates over soil or vegetation, the pesticide or other liquid is sprayed into the hood. Air intake openings in the front of the hood segments permit entry of turbulent air which promotes mixing of the air and sprayed mist inside the hood and substantially uniform application of the mist to the soil or vegetation within the confines of the hood. In a preferred embodiment, a mist curtain extends downwardly from the curved front and rear panels of the adjacent hood segments for enhancing confinement of the mist in the hood during application.

Abstract: A spraying apparatus for spraying agricultural chemicals over shrubbery and small size trees and plants in early stages of their growth positioned in arrays with empty areas therebetween, has a storage for an agricultural chemicals to be sprayed, a spraying assembly having the shape of an upside down “U” and provided with a plurality of spraying nozzles, a detector for detecting the presence of a plant, and an activator for activating the spraying nozzles, after the detector detects a plant, to spray the plant inside the spraying assembly, the spraying assembly having a substantially flat frame composed of a plurality of substantially flat elements.

Abstract: A wick applicator for applying agricultural liquid chemicals to crops, weeds and other vegetation. The wick applicator includes an elongated tube for holding and dispensing liquid chemicals An air inlet extends from the tube and is communicatively open to the internal chamber of the tube. To meter or regulate the flow of liquid chemicals from the elongated tubes a non-variable fixed size orifice is disposed in the air inlet tube. In use, the wick applicator is useful in applying a growth regulating composition to the upper portion of a cotton crop. This is achieved by setting the wick applicator at a selected height and then moving it through a cotton field at that height and in the process, engaging and mopping the portion of any cotton crop in its path.

Abstract: A spraying nozzle, system, and associated methods for applying a liquid to foliage are provided. A container having an opening supplies liquid to be sprayed to a nozzle that includes a spray tip at an upstream end. The nozzle is made of an inert material, and a magnet is affixed adjacent the spray tip's orifice along the liquid pathway. The liquid is pumped out of the container, passing by and contacting the magnet, which affects the liquid droplets by orienting the dipoles of the molecules comprising the liquid. This serves to reduce the droplet size owing to mutual repulsion, creating a “cloud” of spray. The smaller droplets are better able to penetrate smaller spaces in the foliage such as insect habitats and difficult-to-access foliage pockets. The transient magnetization also increases the attraction of the droplets for the foliage, which thereby further increases the efficiency of spraying and coverage achieved.

Abstract: A spraying apparatus for spraying agricultural chemicals over shrubbery and small size arborous trees and plants in early stages of their growth positioned in arrays with empty areas therebetween, the spraying apparatus has a storage for an agricultural chemicals to be sprayed, a spraying assembly having the shape of an upside down U and provided with a plurality of spraying nozzles, a detector for detecting the presence of a plant, and an activator for activating the spraying nozzles, after the detector detects a plant to spray the plants inside the spraying assembly.