This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Crop Interactions in Polyculture and their Implications for CELSS Design
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
For long-duration space missions, a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) is the most economical means of producing the food required by the crew. From a systems design perspective, it would be advantageous to be able to grow all the plants hydroponically, in one large system sharing the same nutrient solution (polyculture). However, very little research has been performed to determine how crop plants interact with one another when grown together hydroponically, although evidence for soil-based interaction between plants does exist. In this study, lettuce and tomato plants were grown in a shared, recirculating nutrient solution to examine the effects of mutual interaction. Only nutrient solution effects were investigated, no atmospheric interactions were examined. Growth of the first crop of lettuce was unaffected or even slightly enhanced by growing it in polyculture with tomato plants. All subsequent lettuce plants were significantly smaller than those grown in monoculture, however, averaging up to 60% lower in dry weight. The results of these experiments demonstrate that there are significant plant-plant interactions in hydroponic nutrient solutions. Possible explanations for this kind of interaction are described and analyzed with respect to their influence on CELSS design.
Authors
Topic
Citation
Stroup, T. and Schwartzkopf, S., "Crop Interactions in Polyculture and their Implications for CELSS Design," SAE Technical Paper 921197, 1992, https://doi.org/10.4271/921197.Also In
References
- Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., Inc. 1991 Lunar Base Controlled Ecological Life Support System (LCELSS) Preliminary Conceptual Design - Final Report NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX.
- Hoff, J.E. Howe J.M. Mitchell C.A. 1982 Nutritional and Cultural Aspects of Plant Species Selection for a Controlled Ecological Life Support System NASA Contractor Report # 166324 Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA
- Putnam, A.R. 1986 Allelopathy: Can It Be Managed To Benefit Horticulture? HortScience 21 3 411 413
- Shafer, W.E. Garrison S.A. 1986 Allelopathic Effects of Soil Incorporated Asparagus Roots on Lettuce, Tomato, and Asparagus Seedling Emergence HortScience 21 1 82 84
- Riotte, L. 1975 Carrots Love Tomatoes Storey Communications, Inc. Pownal, VT
- Miller, E.G. 1938 Plant Physiology McGrawHill Book Co. New York and London 166
- Hazebroek, J.P. Garrison S.A. Gianfagna T. 1989 Allelopathic Substances in Asparagus Roots: Extraction, Characterization and Biological Activity J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 114 1 152 158
- Lewis, W.H. Elvin-Lewis M.P.F. 1977 Medical Botany: Plants Affecting Man's Health John Wiley & Sons Inc. 54
- Stroup, T.L. Schwartzkopf S.H. Marchin G.L. 1991 Iodine Microbial Control of Hydroponic Nutrient Solution SAE Technical Paper 911490 Regenerative Life Support Systems and Processes (SP-873) Society of Automotive Engineers