Prospects and risks of using lunar regolith to form isolated ecosystems

The work is devoted to the study of the potential for growing crops on the lunar regolith of the lunar seas. The work used the simulation of the lunar regolith ETL-1, radish seeds "Celesta F1", garlic cloves of the "Gulyaipilsky" variety and rhizomes of peppermint of the "Lidiya" variety. The control experiment was carried out on pure quartz sand and the universal soil mixture "Eco plus, Peatfield". The aim of the work is to study the potential of the lunar regolith as an edaphic basis for isolated ecosystems of lunar bases. In accordance with the aim, the following tasks were set: to conduct a study of the potential for using the simulation of the lunar regolith ETL-1 for the germination of crops; to model the potential for spontaneous transformations of ecosystems with the edaphic basis of the simulation of the lunar regolith ETL-1; to predict the processes of the dynamics of agroecosystems with the edaphic basis of the simulation of the lunar regolith ETL-1. The ETL-1 lunar regolith simulator is capable of ensuring the germination of seeds and seedlings in the form of a bulb or rhizome and supporting their development for a short time. There is a relationship between the nutrient reserves in seeds or seedlings and their growth indicators on the ETL-1 lunar regolith simulator. The low albedo and granulometric structure of the lunar regolith lead to water loss, its stay in the capillary structure of the substrate. Regolith without treatment and addition of mineral nutrients to the irrigation system is suitable for growing crops with a short vegetation period for the sake of young seedlings (microgreens). The regolith is vulnerable to colonization by microorganisms, including pathological bacteria and fungi. There is also a risk of weed seeds being introduced into the regolith.