Growth rate, biomass formation, and physiological adjustment of terrestrial crops cultivated in Antarctic volcanic Regolith: A functional simulant for lunar agriculture

Establishing sustainable crop cultivation systems is crucial for future long-duration lunar missions, as the lunar regolith lacks essential nutrients and organic matter. We selected volcanic regolith from James Ross Island, Antarctica, as a terrestrial simulant for lunar soil to assess its ability to support crop physiological function. Three crops—Raphanus sativus, Capsicum annuum, and Brassica oleracea—were grown in sterile regolith under nutrient-deficient (double-distilled water) and nutrient-enriched (Hoagland solution) treatments. Plant performance was evaluated using biomass measurements and key chlorophyll-fluorescence indicators (Fv/Fm, Φ_PSII, PI_ABS). R. sativus showed the highest photosystem II efficiency and electron transport under nutrient enrichment; B. oleracea maintained stable photochemistry across treatments; C. annuum exhibited strong nutrient dependency and high energy dissipation under deficiency. Our findings demonstrate that Antarctic volcanic regolith is a valid analogue for lunar soil and that chlorophyll-fluorescence diagnostics offer a rapid, non-invasive tool for screening crops for space agriculture.