Fresh vegetables without sun and soil: first harvest in Antarctica
At Neumayer Station III, scientists have grown lettuce and vegetables without sunlight or soil. Researchers from Germany were able to get lettuce, radishes and cucumbers from the greenhouse. In the near future - the search for effective ways to grow fruits without soil and sunlight.
The positive results of the experiments will be invaluable for expeditions to those areas of the Earth, which are difficult to reach for future conquerors of Mars.
In the northwest of Antarctica, Neumayer Station III is located on the Ekström ice shelf, and the greenhouse was built 400 meters from the station and raised above the ice with vertical supports. The harvest of vegetables was obtained using hydroponics - plants develop in a nutrient medium without soil, and the necessary substances are obtained in the form of a solution. In the greenhouse, a closed cycle of water use is configured, the lighting strength is regulated.
The practical part of the experiment began in February 2018.
"Gardener" Paul Zabel gardens about three to four hours a day. Its tasks include correcting possible problems in the functioning of the system and finding the most suitable conditions for lighting, ventilation and water supply.
When the scientist does not have the opportunity to get into the greenhouse (for example, due to unfavorable weather), the system is remotely launched by his colleagues from the Center for Aviation and Cosmonautics (Germany). In early April, Zabel was able to get about 3.6 kilograms of lettuce, 70 radish root vegetables and 18 cucumbers. According to him, by May this year it will be possible to harvest vegetables for five kg / week.
The ultimate goal of the experiment is to collect fresh vegetables from the greenhouse continuously throughout the year. Scientists are going in the future to get chard, arugula, spinach, tomatoes, sweet pepper, strawberries. Currently, the harvest of seasonings has been removed: basil, parsley, shnitt-onion and cilantro.
The results of Tsabel’s research can be used in the construction of greenhouses for space missions, for example, for a flight to Mars.