Agriculture in enclosed and buried structures on Mars will enable astronauts to conduct extended surface exploration missions. We evaluated a deep-water culture indoor hydroponics system to grow Morin..
Agriculture in enclosed and buried structures on Mars will enable astronauts to conduct extended surface exploration missions. We evaluated a deep-water culture indoor hydroponics system to grow Moringa Oleifera, a nutrient- and antioxidant-rich plant with leaves containing the complete set of amino acids necessary for human nutrition. The lighting intensity was decreased to 590 W/m2 in a twelve hour on/off cycle, in normal atmosphere. This simulates an ambient light collection and reflection system on Mars illuminating an insulated, pressurized underground chamber for agriculture. All plants (N = 32) were harvested over a 9 mo. period at regular intervals when plant heights reached an average of .9 m. A dry consumable leaf yield of .131 kg/mo. averaged 7.58g per plant per day. Data suggest Moringa Oleifera as a perennial hydroponic crop is possible under reduced illumination, thus serving as a food source for Mars explorers.