Space garden. Chinese scientists have turned lunar soil into fertile soil

November 10, 21:37 Share:

Nicotiana benthamiana in a substrate simulating lunar regolith (Photo: Yitong Xia, et al.)

Scientists from the China Agricultural University conducted successful experiments where they used a microbiological method to transform lunar soil into soil suitable for growing plants.

A study published in the journal Communications Biology found that by using certain bacteria, such as phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, it is possible to increase the fertility of lunar regolith and successfully grow seedlings.

Previous research has shown that lunar soil can be used to grow watercress, but it contains insufficient amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, making it unsuitable for growing many other crops.

The method proposed by Chinese researchers converts insoluble phosphorus in lunar soil into a soluble form, improving its suitability for agriculture.

Read also:
Technologically. Chinese researchers present a project for a settlement on the Moon

The experiment used five different strains of bacteria, and after treating with several of them, the level of soluble phosphorus in the soil increased by 214% within ten days. The effects of the treatment were also noticeable on grown plants, where chlorophyll content increased by 104% compared to control samples. In addition, plants grown in the treated soil had longer stems and roots, as well as a larger diameter and number of leaves.

These results, the authors write, could be used for future projects to grow crops on the Moon, which could be the key to creating sustainable settlements on the Earth's satellite.

Read also: Call of the Wild? China wants to build lunar bases in caves

Read about the price of the new NV number, what you can get here