Engineering topics

Barnwell, Payton

Publications and source records attributed to Barnwell, Payton.

2 records

NASA NTRS2017

Effects of White Leds on Growth and Phytonutrients of Outredgeous Romaine Lettuce When Supplemented with Various Monochromatic Wavelengths

Growing plants in space will be an essential part of sustaining astronauts during long-range missions. To drive photosynthesis, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are becoming superior because of their efficiency, longevity, small size, safety, and wavelength versatility. Isolating the effects of certain wavelengths on plant growth when combined with white light is attracting attention. To optimize crop production/quality in space, this study has aimed to configure novel light recipes for the Advanced Plant Habitat currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS). By using white light as a background to maintain normal growth, the addition of monochromatic wavelengths provides a clearer understanding of how each part of the visible spectrum affects plant growth. By growing Outredgeous lettuce under six treatments of White (W) LEDs, W + blue (B), W+ green (G), W + red (R), W + far red (FR), and RGB + FR LEDs with ratios similar to natural sunlight, this investigation has assessed differences in biomass, morphology, chlorophyll, and the synthesis of key phytonutrients. The potential for Outredgeous to produce anthocyanin, lutein, potassium, magnesium, and iron is paramount to maintaining astronaut health. The crop responses to each treatment have been evaluated and the optimal LED combination for both plant yield and nutrient content will be presented.

Food Production↗

NASA NTRS2017

Space Plants for Astronaut Consumption

Growing plants in space will be an essential part of sustaining astronauts during long-range missions. During the summer of 2017, three female NASA interns, have been engaged in research relevant to food production in space, and will present their projects to an all female program known as Girls in STEM camp. Ayla Grandpre, a senior from Rocky Mountain College, has performed data mining and analysis of crop growth results gathered through Fairchild Botanical Gardens program, Growing Beyond Earth. Ninety plants were downselected to three for testing in controlled environment chambers at KSC. Ayla has also managed an experiment testing a modified hydroponics known as PONDS, to grow mizuna mustard greens and red robin cherry tomatoes. Emma Boehm, a senior from the University of Minnesota, has investigated methods to sterilize seeds and analyzed the most common microbial communities on seed surfaces. She has tested a bleach fuming method and an ethanol treatment. Emma has also tested Tokyo bekana Chinese cabbage seeds from four commercial seed vendors to identity differences in germination and growth variability. Lastly, Payton Barnwell, a junior from Florida Polytechnic University has shown that light recipes provided by LEDs can alter the growth and nutrition of 'Outredgeous' lettuce, Chinese cabbage, and Mizuna. The results of her light quality experiments will provide light recipe recommendations for space crops that grown in the Advanced Plant Habitat currently aboard the International Space Station.

VEGGIE↗