Silverstone S E
Biospheres LLC, Bonsall, CA 92003, USA.
Life Support Biosph Sci. 1997;4(3-4):167-78.
Biosphere 2's finite natural resources: atmosphere, plants, water, and soil, and its unique increased rate of nutrient cycling, mandated a design for the agriculture that emphasized sustainability and high productivity. The results of the initial 2-year test of the agriculture system showed that it could provide a diet that was both nutritionally adequate and pleasing to the palate of the eight-member crew from September 1991 to September 1993. The agriculture design was developed from 1985 to 1991 at the Space Biospheres research greenhouses with consulting from the Institute of Ecotechnics (London) from its experiments in New Mexico, Australia, and France and the Environmental Research Laboratory (University of Arizona). During the 2-year mission this research was continued with the close collaboration of outside scientific consultants, particularly in the area of soil management and integrated pest management. The 2000-m2 cropping area provided approximately 81% of the overall nutritional needs of the crew. Initial results showed light to be the main limiting factor and the additional electric light was added after the first 2-year mission to increase the productivity for future experiments. The diet was primarily vegetarian supplemented with daily amounts of milk, and weekly meals of meat and eggs from the system's domestic goats, pigs, and chickens. Nontoxic methods of pest and disease control were used. The main pest problems were broad mite and root knot nematode. Inedible plant material, domestic animal wastes, and human waste water were successfully processed for nutrient return to the soil. Eighty-six varieties of crops were grown in Biosphere 2. Major staple crops included rice, sweet potato, beets, banana, and papaya. The African pygmy goats were the most productive of the domestic animals producing on average 1.14 kg of milk per day. The diet averaged 2200 calories, 73 g of protein, and 32 g of fat per person per day over the 2 years. The crew had a 10-20% weight loss, mostly occurring in the first 6 months of closure, after which weights stabilized with some increase in the second year. Agriculture field management took 25% of crew time, animal care required an additional 9% and food preparation accounted for 12% of crew labor.
“生物圈2号”有限的自然资源，即大气、植物、水和土壤，以及其独特的较高养分循环速率，决定了其农业设计要强调可持续性和高生产力。农业系统最初两年的测试结果表明，从1991年9月到1993年9月，它能够为八名成员的团队提供营养充足且口感良好的饮食。农业设计于1985年至1991年在太空生物圈研究温室中进行开发，期间得到了生态技术研究所（伦敦）的咨询，该研究所借鉴了其在新墨西哥州、澳大利亚和法国的实验以及环境研究实验室（亚利桑那大学）的经验。在为期两年的任务期间，这项研究在外部科学顾问的密切合作下继续进行，特别是在土壤管理和综合虫害管理领域。2000平方米的种植面积满足了团队约81%的总体营养需求。初步结果表明光照是主要限制因素，在首个两年任务期后增加了额外的电灯，以提高未来实验的生产力。饮食主要为素食，每天补充一定量的牛奶，每周还有来自系统内家养山羊、猪和鸡的肉和蛋。采用了无毒的病虫害控制方法。主要的害虫问题是侧多食跗线螨和根结线虫。不可食用的植物材料、家畜粪便和人类废水都被成功处理，以便将养分返还给土壤。“生物圈2号”种植了86种作物。主要主食作物包括水稻、红薯、甜菜、香蕉和木瓜。非洲侏儒山羊是最具生产力的家畜，平均每天产奶1.14千克。在这两年中，人均饮食平均每天提供2200卡路里热量、73克蛋白质和32克脂肪。团队成员体重减轻了10%至20%，主要发生在封闭的前6个月，之后体重稳定下来，第二年有所增加。农业田间管理占用了团队成员时间中的25%，动物照料额外需要9%，食品准备占团队劳动力的12%。
