GROWTH POTENTIAL OF RADISH IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.
Abstract
Under optimized conditions (culture chamber and plant-supportive matrix, nutrients, elevated P(CO2), continuous light, etc.) the radish plant can produce significantly large masses of edible plant material in a relatively short period of time. Certain strains of radish (HV White Icicle and Chinese Celestial) have yielded 10 to 12 liters O2/(sq m)(hr) at 15 through 35 days postplanting. At 30 days the dry weight yield (tuberous roots plus foliage) was 2.5 kg./sq m or a daily average of 82.5 gm/sq m. The food value of the total dry plant material was approximately 3 kcal/gm or 247.5 kcal/sq m 1 day. Cyclic growth of 4 to 5 sq m could provide the O2 requirements of one man, and an increase in planted surface to 8 to 10 sq m would provide the caloric requirement of one man and the O2 requirement of 2 to 3 men. This approach should provide background information for the possible utilization of plant systems in aerospace missions of extended duration. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0700741
Entities
People
- Syrrel S. Wilks
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine