Cosmic Crops

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Cosmic Crops
Image Credit NASA
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What is Hydroponics?

• The growing of plants in nutrient solutions
• Does not require soil
• Hydroponics systems pump necessary nutrients
  right to the plant.

Image Credit Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul and Dr. Robert
J. Ferl Department of Horticultural Sciences /
IFAS University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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It is all in the name!

• Hydro water
• Ponos labor
• Hydroponics basically means working with water

Plants grown using hydroponics at Walt Disney
World. Image Credit Walt Disney
World http//disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index
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What are the benefits of hydroponics in space and
on Earth?

• Nutrient absorption occurs more rapidly
• Growth rate of plants is 30-50 faster than in
  soil plant growth
• Plants do not have to search for nutrient in the
  soil
• Nutrients, water, air, light, and temperature can
  all be managed in a small growing space

Rice plants grown hydroponically Photo Courtesy
USDA
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Different Hydroponics Systems

• Active Systems-rely on a pump to flow nutrient
  around the plants roots and to provide aeration
• Passive Systems- Work without a pump.

Image and Information Credit The Growing
Edge http//www.growingedge.com/kids/growing_info.
html
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Other Types

• Media-Based Systems - rely on a growing medium to
  support the plants and hold nutrients around
  their roots.

• Water Culture Systems - usually operate without
  media.

Image Credit Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul and Dr. Robert
J. Ferl Department of Horticultural Sciences /
IFAS University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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What is Microgravity?

• Microgravity is the condition in which there is
  little gravitational force
• Space scientists conduct research with plants in
  space/very little gravitational force
• This research contributes to NASAs efforts to
  further human exploration of space and to improve
  the quality of life on Earth.

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What is Gravitropism?

• Gravitropism describes the up and down growth
  response of plants.
• No matter how seeds are positioned in the ground,
  they will grow with the root growing down and the
  shoot growing up.
• It is the bending response of plants to the force
  of gravity.

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Positive Negative Gravitropism

• The root response growing down is called positive
  gravitropism.
• The coleoptile response growing up is called
  negative gravitropism.

Image Credit http//botit.botany.wisc.edu/images/
130/Tropisms/gravitropism/Gravitropism_MC.html
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How does gravitropism work in space?

• In the absence of gravitational forces, plants
  will grow upside down, sideways, and any
  direction!

Image Credit NASA http//exploration.nasa.gov/pro
grams/station/Education-SEEDS_lite.html