From Moonwalkers to Farmers: Turning Lunar Soil into Fertilizer for Hydroponic Farming Sooner or later, settlers on the Moon will have to become farmers. A new European Space Agency (ESA) Discovery project led by Norway’s Solsys Mining is looking into the treatment of lunar soil to create fertilize
Sooner or later, settlers on the Moon will have to become farmers. A new ESA Discovery project led by Norway’s Solsys Mining is looking into the treatment of lunar soil to create fertilizer for growing plants. Credit: Solsys MiningSooner or later, settlers on the Moon will have to become farmers. A new European Space Agency Discovery project led by Norway’s Solsys Mining is looking into the treatment of lunar soil to create fertilizer for growing plants.
The good news is that analysis of lunar samples returned to Earth in the past by Moonwalkers and robots shows sufficient essential minerals are available for plant growth, apart from nitrogen compounds. The bad news is that lunar soil compacts in the presence of water, creating problems for plant germination and root growth.
Hydroponic farming therefore offers a practical alternative; this type of agriculture involves feeding plant roots directly with nutrient-rich water, without the need for soil. The potential is still there however to put lunar regolith to work, on the basis of ‘in-situ resource utilization’ – or living off the land.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Revolutionizing Mechanobiology: New Electromagnetic Device Sets New Standard for Tissue TestingAccording to researchers, a groundbreaking electromagnetic device has set a new benchmark for precision in the field of mechanobiology. This device, which enables accurate measurement of a variety of soft biological tissues, makes it possible to conduct mechanical tests on samples the size of human
Read more »
'Living Single' creator Yvette Lee Bowser is still revolutionizing TVFor 30 years, Yvette Lee Bowser has been putting Black characters on screen and helping a generation of storytellers get the chance to tell their own stories. Read more of what she had to say to AlaminYohannes here:
Read more »
Palo Alto College, Texas A&M University team up to help agriculture studentsThanks to a new partnership between Palo Alto College and Texas A&M University, the transition for an agriculture student will almost be seamless when it comes to school credits and paperwork.
Read more »
Ageing threatens sustainability of smallholder farming in China - NatureRural population ageing reduces the sustainability of smallholder farming in China, but the transition to a new farming model could reverse the negative effects of rural population ageing.
Read more »
Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Eyeing a Cannes Film Festival DebutMartin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is eyeing a world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, potentially giving the annual celebration of ci…
Read more »
View Jupiter and Venus near the Moon just after sunset this weekThe two brightest planets in our sky are getting cozy this month. Jupiter and Venus will appear close together each evening just after sunset and will be visible near the waxing crescent Moon.
Read more »