AIR-PRUNED TRANSPLANT PRODUCTION SYSTEM FOR FULLY AUTOMATED TRANSPLANTING

Billions of seedlings or transplants are utilized yearly in various segments of agricultural production including vegetable, tobacco, tree, shrub, grass and flower culture. The amount of labor involved in the seedling production industry is tremendous for both greenhouse and field crops. Development of fully automatic greenhouse and field transplanters has been accomplished through the use of the root air-pruning phenomenon. A unique seedling tray assembly has been developed to enhance the significant benefits of using an air-pruned transplant production system which eliminates root binding/tangling, enhances root branching and accelerates plant growth in the tray cell and after transplanting.