A team of agronomists and biotechnicians at China Agricultural University has discovered that the addition of bacteria to simulated lunar regolith can increase the amount of phosphate in the soil, making it more suitable for plant growth. Their findings were published in the journal Communications Biology. In their study, the team introduced three different types of bacteria to samples of volcanic material and evaluated their acidity levels and their ability to support plant growth.
As various countries plan to send humans back to the moon, one of the key challenges they face is ensuring a sustainable food source for extended periods of time. Growing their own food seems to be the most viable solution. However, transporting soil from Earth to the moon for cultivating edible plants poses logistical difficulties.
Some experts have proposed treating lunar regolith, also known as moon soil, to make it suitable for plant growth. Last year, a team in the U.S. demonstrated the possibility of growing plants in lunar regolith by cultivating a small number of thale cress weeds in real lunar soil samples. Although the test showed that lunar soil can support plant growth, it was not sufficient for mature plants to produce food. In this new study, the research team found that the addition of microbes to lunar soil can enhance its ability to sustain plant life.
To investigate the potential of using bacteria to improve the fertility of lunar regolith, the research team obtained volcanic material samples from a mountain in China, which proved to be a suitable substitute for regolith in their tests. The researchers then introduced one of three types of bacteria—Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus mucilaginosus—to three separate pots filled with the volcanic material.
After cultivating the bacteria in the soil samples, the researchers examined the effects. They observed that the addition of all three types of bacteria increased the soil’s acidity, resulting in a decrease in pH levels. This process dissolved the insoluble phosphate-containing minerals in the soil, releasing phosphorus and making it available for plants.
2023-11-12 19:41:03
Article from phys.org rnrn