Publication details
Growth rate, biomass formation, and physiological adjustment of terrestrial crops cultivated in Antarctic volcanic Regolith: A functional simulant for lunar agriculture
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | ACTA ASTRONAUTICA |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576525006290 |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.09.056 |
| Keywords | Antarctic regolith simulant; Chlorophyll fluorescence; PSII photochemistry; OJIP transients; Space agriculture |
| Description | Establishing sustainable crop cultivation systems is crucial for future long-duration lunar missions, as the lunar regolith lacks essential nutrients and organic matter. We selected volcanic regolith from James Ross Island, Antarctica, as a terrestrial simulant for lunar soil to assess its ability to support crop physiological function. Three crops-Raphanus sativus, Capsicum annuum, and Brassica oleracea-were grown in sterile regolith under nutrientdeficient (double-distilled water) and nutrient-enriched (Hoagland solution) treatments. Plant performance was evaluated using biomass measurements and key chlorophyll-fluorescence indicators (Fv/Fm, Phi PSII, PIABS). R. sativus showed the highest photosystem II efficiency and electron transport under nutrient enrichment; B. oleracea maintained stable photochemistry across treatments; C. annuum exhibited strong nutrient dependency and high energy dissipation under deficiency. Our findings demonstrate that Antarctic volcanic regolith is a valid analogue for lunar soil and that chlorophyll-fluorescence diagnostics offer a rapid, non-invasive tool for screening crops for space agriculture. |
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