Recently, scientists have grown chickpeas, an edible legume native to Turkey, in lunar dust for the first time. However, it should be noted that the lunar soil planted is not the lunar soil brought back by the probe, but a copy of the lunar soil samples brought back by the Apollo mission. It is reported that because the moon lacks organic matter, nutrients and microorganisms on the earth, which are crucial for plant growth.
To address these challenges,The research team developed a soil amendment that creates fertile moon dust through the interaction between soil fungi and earthworm castings.
These amendments help sequester toxic contaminants and increase plant tolerance to stress and toxins.
One of the reasons why chickpeas were chosen for study is that they are an excellent source of protein while requiring less water and nitrogen than other food crops.
Through this new technology,The research team successfully grew chickpeas in up to 75% lunar debris simulants, blooming despite signs of chlorophyll deficiency.
The team hasn't yet addressed the effects of low gravity or high radiation, but data from China's Chang'e 4 mission growing plants in soil on the lunar surface suggests that lunar gravity may even help plant growth.
In the future, when humans develop the moon, chickpeas are also expected to be used as a food source.