Can Lettuce Grow on the Moon: Effects of Simulated Lunar Soil and Organic Amendments on the Growth of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Physics and Astronomy- Grade:
- 8
- Teacher:
- Shermaine Dela Rosa
Future space exploration requires astronauts to grow food using materials available beyond Earth. Transporting soil from Earth is costly and impractical, making the use of lunar regolith an important area of research (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA], 2020). This study investigated how different mixtures of simulated lunar soil and garden soil affect the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) when organic amendments are added. Ten soil treatments were prepared, ranging from 100% garden soil (control) to nearly 100% simulated lunar soil. All treatments received equal amounts of coconut coir, ground eggshells, and ground coffee to improve soil structure and nutrient availability. Lettuce growth was measured weekly over an eight-week period. Results showed that lettuce grew best in soil mixtures with higher proportions of garden soil, while plants grown in high percentages of simulated lunar soil showed slower growth and higher mortality. These findings support previous research indicating that lunar regolith alone lacks sufficient nutrients for healthy plant growth (Wamelink et al., 2014) and demonstrate that simulated lunar soil may support limited growth only when mixed with Earth soil and organic amendments (Plant the Moon Challenge, 2023).