Evaluation of Candidate Crop Plants in Biologically Enhanced Martian Regolith

Candidate crops for a Mars mission will be evaluated for biocompatibility with Martian regolith that has been amended with biologically degraded organic waste material through the process of vericulture. We propose to compare the growth of a grain (dwarf wheat), leafy green (lettuce) and fruiting (tomato) crop grown in amended regolith with recirculating hydroponic nutrition system in the Inflatable Lunar/Martian Habitat (ILMH)’s Plant Growth Module at University of North Dakota. Yield and quality of the candidate crops grown in Analog Mars Habit under the enriched Regolith will be compared to control plants grown in a recirculating hydroponic system. The feasibility of adapting techniques for reducing the volume of organic waste, recovering nutrients, and recycling resources in a closed plant growth system for Mars will be evaluated. The viability of incorporating and using vermiculture to reduce organic waste and enrich Martian Regolith will be determined, and the biocompatibility of the resultant biologically enhanced Martian regolith with candidate crop production in a Mars Analog Test will be established.

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