As the prospect of human missions to the moon becomes more tangible, the challenge of sustaining life in lunar environments must be addressed. One crucial aspect is providing a means for growing food on the moon, given the impracticality of transporting soil from Earth. A team of agronomists and biotechnicians from China Agricultural University has made strides in this endeavor by exploring the use of bacteria to enhance plant growth in simulated lunar regolith.
Published in the journal Communications Biology, the study involved adding three types of bacteria to samples of volcanic material, serving as a stand-in for lunar regolith. The selected bacteria were Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus mucilaginosus. The researchers aimed to improve the soil’s suitability for plant growth by testing its acidity and evaluating its impact on plant development.
The addition of bacteria altered the soil’s pH level, making it more acidic and dissolving phosphate-containing minerals that were previously insoluble. This process released phosphorus, a crucial nutrient for plant growth, and made it available for the plants. The researchers then conducted a direct test by planting Nicotiana benthamiana in the treated soil.
The results were promising, with the enhanced soil supporting plants that exhibited more robust roots, longer stems, and larger leaves compared to untreated samples. This breakthrough suggests that introducing bacteria to lunar regolith could make it more hospitable for plant life, paving the way for the possibility of sustainable agriculture on the moon.
As space agencies and researchers around the world explore solutions for long-term lunar habitation, such innovative approaches to lunar agriculture play a vital role in addressing the complex challenges associated with human life beyond Earth. The study represents a significant step forward in the quest for self-sufficiency in extraterrestrial environments.