Synthesis, characterization and application of ion exchange resin as a slow-release fertilizer for wheat cultivation in space

• Published in: Acta astronautica 2016-10, Vol.127, p.579-586
• Main Authors: Li, Bowei, Dong, Chen, Chu, Zhengpei, Zhang, Weizhe, Wang, Minjuan, Liu, Hong, Xie, Beizhen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS); Cultivation; Exchange; Fertilizing; Ion exchange resins; Ions concentration; Nutrients; Plants (organisms); Polymers; Resins; Vermiculite; Wheat
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2016.06.048

In addition to the bio-regenerative air revitalization, water recycling and waste management systems and their associated challenges, enhancing the crop yield with less fertilizer input for sustainable food production in space is also a challenge that needs to be overcome. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of applying ion exchange resin as a slow-release fertilizer for wheat cultivation in space. Strong-acid cationic exchange resins and weak-base anion exchange resins soaked in 1X, 5X, 10X and 15X Hoagland nutrient solutions, respectively, were used as fertilizers in clinoptilolite to cultivate wheat plants, and the morphological and physiological characteristics of the wheat plants were studied and compared with that of the wheat planted in vermiculite and nutrient solutions. The results showed that more ions were attached on the surface of the ion exchange resins as the solution concentration increased. After 14 days, the fresh weight of wheat planted in the ion exchange resin-clinoptilolite (IER-clinoptilolite) treated with 10X and 15X solutions were 190% and 192% higher than that of wheat planted in nutrient solution with the same concentration. Chlorophyll content of wheat plants cultivated in the two kinds of solid medium is significantly higher than that of liquid cultivation. The lowest peroxidase (POD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of wheat plants cultivated in the IER-clinoptilolite appeared on the 14th day. According to all the experimental data, it's promising to produce slow-release nutrient fertilizer by using strong-acid cationic exchange resins and weak-base anion exchange resins for wheat cultivation in space. •Using ion exchange resin is a potential solution to improve soil on the moon/Mars.•Slow-release nutrient fertilizer can improve wheat output and save the fertilizer in space.•Wheat fresh weight in ion exchange resin was much higher than that in nutrient solution.