American scientists have for the first time in history succeeded in growing peas in an artificial environment mimicking lunar soil. The results of this experiment, conducted by experts from Texas A&M University, were published in the journal Scientific Reports. This discovery could be a significant step in establishing food supplies for astronauts during future space missions.
It is known that lunar regolith differs drastically from Earth's soil. It lacks the organic matter and beneficial microorganisms necessary for plant growth. Furthermore, the heavy metals it contains are toxic to plants. To overcome these problems, researchers used a complex method. They added vermicompost prepared with earthworms to the artificial regolith. Additionally, the pea seeds were treated with special mycorrhizal fungi before planting. These fungi helped the plant absorb nutrients and prevented the uptake of harmful metals.
The experiment showed that a soil mixture containing up to 75 percent lunar regolith was the most optimal environment for pea growth. Under these exact conditions, the plants fully matured and produced a harvest. However, the scientists believe the work is not yet finished. Lead author of the study, Jessica Atkin, stated that it is now necessary to deeply study the safety and nutritional value of the harvested crop for human health. Scientists need to determine that the peas have not accumulated toxic metals and are sufficiently beneficial for astronauts.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
