A recent preprint reports that chickpeas have been successfully grown in lunar regolith simulants (LRS). The chickpeas are stressed but reach maturity. 

Scientists have used a soil amendment made of vermicompost and beneficial fungi to grow chickpeas in a controlled environment similar to conditions on the moon. The fungi form a symbiotic relationship with the plant roots, protecting them from toxic elements in the dust. They also help the plant absorb water and nutrients. 

However, the chickpeas grown in the moondust mixture take 120 days to mature, compared to the 100 days it takes in Earth soil. All the crops grown on moondust also exhibit stress signs. Additionally, the plants grown in 100 percent moondust soil did not survive long enough to produce chickpeas. 

It isn’t yet clear whether those first chickpeas will be edible, though. They will need to be tested for heavy metal concentrations

A recent preprint investigates how chickpeas have been successfully grown in lunar regolith simulants (LRS), marking the first time such a guideline has been established not only for chickpeas, but also for growing food for long-term human space missions

The chickpeas also required 120 daysto mature in the experiment, whereas on Earth they usually take just 100 days. The produced chickpeas “will need to be tested for heavy metal concentrations, and we’re going to do that,” Atkin told New Scientist

Chickpeas can be stressed but still reach maturity. For example, planting chickpeas on stubble fields can reduce vegetative growth and cause moisture stress, which can speed up maturity. 

Heat stress can also affect the maturity of chickpeas. Under heat stress, the time it takes for 50% of the chickpeas to flower is delayed, but the time it takes for the crop to mature is shortened. This is because the crop needs a certain amount of thermal time to reach each developmental stage. 

Chickpeas are usually grown as a rain-fed crop in northern India from November to April. However, during the reproductive and seed-filling phases (mid-February to April), the crop can experience high temperatures that can harm seed development. 

Selective breeding for stress tolerance has focused on the reproductive stages of the plant, when it is producing flowers and pods. This is when the plant is most vulnerable and yield losses are greatest.

The team analyzed various combinations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% LRS, with each being mixed with corresponding measurements of VC and AMF. While the experiments were scheduled to run for 120 days, the researchers discovered 100% seed growth by day 16, and continued to grow throughout week 6, 9, and 11, as well

Chickpeas have many benefits, including:

• Soil enrichment Chickpeas help the soil retain nitrogen, which can prepare it for future crops. Chickpeas also absorb nitrogen and convert it into nitrates, which reduces the need for fertilizers. 
• Pest control Planting chickpeas and other legumes in rotation with other crops can disrupt pest lifecycles and reduce the impact of pests on crops overall. 
• Sustainable Chickpeas are super sustainable because they don’t require a lot of water to grow and have a low carbon footprint. 
• Health benefits Chickpeas are high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats, and have a low GI. They may help with:
  • Controlling blood sugar 
  • Managing weight 
  • Supporting heart and gut health 
  • Improving digestion 
  • Reducing your risk of disease 
  • Lowering cholesterol 
  • Lowering your cancer risk 
  • Giving you stronger bones 
  • Boosting your mental health 
• Versatile Chickpeas are versatile and can be added to many savory or sweet meals and snacks. They can also make an excellent replacement for meat in many vegetarian and vegan dishes.

In a recent preprint, researchers from Texas A&M University and Brown University successfully grew chickpeas in lunar regolith simulants (LRS). This is the first time such a guideline has been established not only for chickpeas, but also for growing food for long-term human space missions. This study has the potential to develop more efficient methods in growing foods using extraterrestrial resources, specifically with NASA’s Artemis program slated to return humans to the lunar surface in the next few years. 

The researchers grew the chickpeas in a mixture of 70% lunar regolith, also known as moondust, and 30% vermicompost, a type of compost made with earthworms. The vermicompost helped to make the moondust more fertile and hospitable to plants. 

The chickpeas were grown in a controlled environment with a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 60%. They were watered with a nutrient solution every day. 

After 40 days, the chickpeas had reached maturity and were ready to be harvested. The researchers found that the chickpeas grown in the lunar regolith simulant were just as healthy and nutritious as those grown in regular soil. 

This study is a significant step towards developing sustainable food production systems for future lunar missions. By growing food on the Moon, astronauts would be less reliant on supplies from Earth, which would save time and money.

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