Selection of Salad Vegetables in Controlled Ecological Life Support System / 航天医学与医学工程

ABSTRACT

Objective To select suitable vegetable for use in Controlled Ecological Life Support System for future long-term space missions. Method Five crops of lettuce(four Lactuca sativa L. var.crispa L.and one Lactuca sativa L. var.longifolia Lam), two crops of spinach(Spinacia oleracea L.), one rape(B.napus L.)and one common sowthisthe (Sonchus Oleraceus L.)were grown in a Controlled Ecological Life Support Technique Experimental System. Hydroponic nutrient solution, light, temperature and relative humidity were regulated, CO_2 levels were controlled at 500, 1 000, 1500 and 2 000 ?mol/mol, and light intensity were controlled at 100, 300, 500 and 700 ?mol/(m2?s). Canopy photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and leaf aera were measured on day after planted (DAP) 25 and 30. Plants were harvested at maturity, and analyzed for total fresh weigh and proximate composition (crude fiber,nitrite and ?-carotene). Result Three crops of lettuce “nenlvnaiyou”, “dasusheng”,“youmaicai” ,and one common sowthisthe were selected. The favorite CO_2 concentration and light intensity 2 000 ?mol/mol, and 700 ?mol/(m2?s) respectively.Conclusion The four crops selected have high productivity, photosynthetic rates and transpiration rates, which can be considered as the basis of the vegetables to be used for future long-term space missions.