Scientists Grow Chickpeas in Moon Dirt
Scientists have successfully grown chickpeas in simulated moon dirt and even produced seeds for a new generation. The experiment used fungi and compost to help legumes thrive in harsh conditions, potentially revolutionizing space farming and sustainable food production in extreme environments for future lunar missions.
Lunar regolith, the "soil" on the moon, is fundamentally different from Earth's soil, lacking the essential organic matter needed for plant growth. It is composed of sharp, glass-like particles that can damage plant roots. Researchers are also concerned about the potential for plants to absorb high levels of heavy metals from the lunar substrate, which could make them toxic to eat. To overcome these hurdles, researchers from Texas A&M University used a multi-pronged approach for the 'Myles' variety of chickpeas. They coated the seeds with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which help plants absorb nutrients and can reduce the uptake of heavy metals. The simulated moon dirt was also mixed with vermicompost, a product of earthworm activity, to add organic components. The experiment revealed that chickpeas could grow and produce seeds in mixtures containing up to 75% simulated moon dirt. However, in a substrate of 100% lunar simulant without any added nutrients, the seeds died before they could flower. Even in the successful mixtures, the plants showed signs of stress and produced fewer seeds than control plants grown in Earth soil. This isn't the first attempt to grow plants in lunar soil. In 2022, scientists at the University of Florida successfully sprouted *Arabidopsis thaliana*, or thale cress, in actual lunar regolith samples brought back by the Apollo missions. While the thale cress did grow, the plants were stunted and showed signs of stress, similar to the chickpeas. Before lunar-grown chickpeas can be considered a viable food source for astronauts, further research is needed. Scientists will analyze the nutritional value of the chickpeas and determine if they have absorbed harmful heavy metals from the simulated regolith. The success of this experiment has paved the way for further research into creating sustainable closed-loop ecosystems on future lunar bases.
