science
Chickpeas Sprout in Simulated Lunar Soil but Show Stress and Lower Seed Yield
@NewScientist reported on experiments mixing lunar regolith simulant with compost and fungi. Chickpeas germinated faster than in terrestrial soil but showed stress and lower seed production. The work supports NASA efforts toward lunar agriculture.
New ScientistAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Jessica Atkin, a space botanist at Texas A&M University, has shown that chickpeas can germinate in mixtures of simulated lunar regolith, organic matter and fungi. @NewScientist reported that the plants sprouted faster than in terrestrial soil, though they experienced stress and produced fewer seeds.
Atkin began the experiments in her living room in 2020 and 2021 after a NASA proposal required additional preliminary data.
She later moved the work into laboratories at Texas A&M. The mixtures used simulated regolith replicating Artemis landing sites in the lunar highlands. The Artemis II mission circled the moon and forms part of NASA plans for a permanent lunar base.
Sending material from Earth costs up to $100,000 per pound, making local soil production necessary for long-term presence. Lunar regolith grains are small, sharp and positively charged. They contain phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and aluminium, but the structure prevents proper water flow and can damage plant tissue.
Atkin added compost and fungi to improve conditions for root growth and microbial partnerships. Chickpea seeds from the trials are now being tested for toxicity at Pennsylvania State University. Atkin said the goal is to transform regolith into usable soil rather than rely on any single crop.
Additional challenges include two-week lunar day and night cycles, one-sixth Earth gravity, higher radiation and the need to keep abrasive dust out of habitats. NASA has separately tested strawberry growth in space-station-like conditions on Earth and sent strawberry seeds to the International Space Station. Atkin previously served four years in the U.S.
