The differences between space plants and ordinary plants are mainly reflected in the following aspects:12
Growth environment: Space plants grow in space capsules, while ordinary plants grow on the surface of the earth. The environment in the space capsule is artificially controlled and is very different from the natural environment on earth.
Gravity effect: Space plants grow in a weightless environment, which will affect the growth direction of the plants. The stems may become thinner and the leaves may become larger to increase the outward force area. In addition, the characteristics of the root system of space plants to grow gravitationally will be weakened, and the root system may grow in disorder.
Light source: Space plants rely on artificial light sources for photosynthesis, and the wavelength and intensity of artificial light sources are different from sunlight, which will affect the growth and development of plants. For example, plants grown under red light will have redder leaves.
Water and nutrient absorption: In a weightless environment, water for space plants will exist in gaseous form, making it difficult for the roots to absorb water. To solve this problem, the space vegetable garden uses “water circulation technology”. In addition, space plants need to be artificially provided with liquid nutrients, which are directly delivered to the roots of the plants by spraying.
Radiation and temperature: Space plants are exposed to radiation such as cosmic rays and solar wind, which may have adverse effects on plant growth and health. At the same time, the temperature in space varies greatly, and plants must adapt to this extreme temperature environment.
Safety and yield: Space plants need to undergo rigorous safety testing to ensure that they are safe to eat. Although the space environment is very different from the earth’s environment, no safety issues have been found in space plants. In addition, plant seeds that have been bred in space may show characteristics of increased yield and optimized nutritional content after being planted on Earth.
In summary, there are significant differences between space plants and ordinary plants in terms of growth environment, gravity influence, light source, water and nutrient absorption, radiation and temperature adaptability, safety and yield.
