Scientists grow peas on artificial lunar soil, but they hesitate to try it as soup

Lentils Grow on the Moon—First Successful Experiment

The hero of the film *“The Martian”* demonstrated how one can survive on Mars by growing potatoes in Martian soil. Now scientists are trying to show that it is also possible to self‑sustain food production on the Moon.

What Was Done
- Substrate – a mixture of lunar regolith (dusty rock) and “vermicompost” (organic compost derived from California worms).

Regolith itself contains almost no organic matter needed by plants. Therefore, enough organics were added to the substrate to support growth.

- Regolith Problems

- Contains toxic salts and heavy metals.
- Low water‑holding capacity.

To reduce toxicity and improve water retention, only small fractions of regolith were added to the mix—typically from 25 % to 75 %.

- Mycorrhizal fungi – they promote root system growth, convert minerals and organics into plant‑available forms.

Experiment
Texas A&M University grew lentils (Cicer arietinum) in controlled chambers.

Different substrate proportions were used:

In each case the plants went through all life‑cycle stages: germination, vegetative growth, flowering, and seed production.

Results
- Successful growth even at the maximum lunar soil content (75 %).
- Increasing regolith content reduced overall biomass and seed number, but bean size remained roughly the same.
- Seeds appeared edible, though researchers have not yet tasted them.

Significance
This is the first documented case of a full legume harvest on substrates that closely resemble lunar soil. Lentils are a rich source of protein and other nutrients, making them a promising crop for space missions.

The next step is to test the suitability of Moon‑grown lentils for human consumption. For now, this remains a task for the future.