Selection of Crop Varities for Efficient Production Using Urea, Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite in the Closed Environment Life Support System

摘要

Crop production during extended space flights requires the development of procedures leading to the optimum use of the available energy. Since N assimilation is one of the most costly functions of a plant optimizing its use represents an area where significant input could be made to the CELLS program. Since the oxidation of human waste and irredible plant parts can furnish a significant proportion of the N required to support the continuous growth of crops, a primary question is how the plants react to the expected products, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and urea alone and when mixed. Both wheat and barley were used in these studies, since both reacted similarly to the N sources.