PLANT CULTIVATION SYSTEM UTILIZING PHOSPHITE AS A NUTRIENT AND AS A CONTROL AGENT FOR WEEDS AND ALGAE

摘要

A plant cultivation system, including methods, apparatus, plants, and compositions, for utilizing phosphite as a nutrient to support growth of a transgenic plant and as a control agent for unwanted organisms, such as weeds and/or algae, among others. In an exemplary method, an effective amount of phosphite is applied to a substrate, and/or to foliage above the substrate, to enhance growth of a transgenic plant and/or to act as a weed- control agent that kills weeds and/or directly suppresses growth of weeds near the transgenic plant. In another exemplary method, soil is tested for a content of phosphate, and an effective amount of phosphite for supporting growth of a transgenic plant and controlling weeds is selected and applied based on the content of phosphate. In yet another exemplary method, phosphite is used to control algae in a hydroponic system.