Agricultural potential of lunar regolith – a review on cultivation methodologies

Abstract

Different methodologies have been reported in the literature for cultivation in extraplanetary regolith for Lunar, Mars, and Asteroid simulants. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of planting methods that use regolith as a plant growth substrate, highlighting species and environmental parameters controlled in research. It examines the nutritional adjustments and soil amendments necessary to enable cultivation, synthesizing findings from experiments documented in the literature. The review proposes an optimized methodology for future cultivation efforts and experimental designs by identifying disparities and successful cases. The ultimate goal of this report is to challenge researchers to master a regolith-based agricultural design that enables thriving plant ecosystems on the Moon and transforms regolith into a viable substrate for future space cultivation.