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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Processing of nutritious, safe and acceptable foods from CELSS candidate crops

A controlled ecological life-support system (CELSS) is required to sustain life for long-duration space missions. The challenge is preparing a wide variety of tasty, familiar, and nutritious foods from CELSS candidate crops under space environmental conditions. Conventional food processing technologies will have to be modified to adapt to the space environment. Extrusion is one of the processes being examined as a means of converting raw plant biomass into familiar foods. A nutrition-improved pasta has been developed using cowpea as a replacement for a portion of the durum semolina. A freeze-drying system that simulates the space conditions has also been developed. Other technologies that would fulfill the requirements of a CELSS will also be addressed.

NASA Discipline Number 93-10↗
NASA NTRS2014

Estimating Canopy Dark Respiration for Crop Models

Crop production is obtained from accurate estimates of daily carbon gain.Canopy gross photosynthesis (Pgross) can be estimated from biochemical models of photosynthesis using sun and shaded leaf portions and the amount of intercepted photosyntheticallyactive radiation (PAR).In turn, canopy daily net carbon gain can be estimated from canopy daily gross photosynthesis when canopy dark respiration (Rd) is known.

Canopy↗
NASA NTRS2018

Smallholder Crop Area Mapped with Wall-To-Wall WorldView Sub-Meter Panchromatic Image Texture: A Test Case for Tigray, Ethiopia

Global food production in the developing world occurs within sub-hectare fields that are difficult to identify with moderate resolution satellite imagery. Knowledge about the distribution of these fields is critical in food security programs. We developed a semi-automated image segmentation approach using wall-to-wall sub-meter imagery with high-performance computing to map crop area (CA) throughout Tigray, Ethiopia that encompasses over 41,000 km (exp 2). Multiple processing streams were tested to minimize mapping error while applying five unique smoothing kernels to capture differences in land surface texture associated to CA. Typically, very-small fields (mean < 2 ha) have a smooth image roughness compared to natural scrub/shrub woody vegetation at the ~1m scale and these features can be segmented in panchromatic imagery with multi-level histogram thresholding. Multi-temporal very-high resolution (VHR) panchromatic imagery with multi-spectral VHR are sufficient in extracting critical CA information needed in food security programs. A 2011 to 2015 CA map was produced, using over 3000 WorldView-1 panchromatic images wall-to-wall in 1/2 deg mosaics for Tigray, Ethiopia. CA was evaluated with nearly 3000 WorldView-2 2m multispectral 250 X 250 m image subsets by seven expert interpretations, and with in-situ global positioning system photography. CA estimates ranged from 32 to 41% in sub regions of Tigray with median maximum per bin commission and omission errors of 11% and 1% respectively, with most of the error occurring in bins <15%. This empirical, simple, and low direct cost approach via U.S. government license agreement to access commercial VHR data, could be a viable big-data high-performance computing methodology to extract wall-to-wall CA for other regions of the world that have very-small agriculture fields with similar image texture."

Ethiopia↗
NASA NTRS2020

Integrated assessment of climate change impacts on crop productivity and income of commercial maize farms in northeast South Africa

Agriculture in South Africa sustains about 70% of the region’s population for food, income and employment, playing an important role for food security and the local economy. The focus of the study was the commercial maize farms of the Free State Province given their importance in the National economy. The Regional Integrated Assessment (phase I) was implemented to assess climate change and adaptation that links climate, crops, economic data and tools developed by the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP). In this context, the“system”is defined as a whole of agronomic and socio-economic factors. Within that framework three core questions were being evaluated: (i) Impacts of climate change under current system; (ii) Impacts of climate change under future system; (iii) The role of adaptation under climate change and the future system. Maize production will decrease between 10% to 16% as a result of projected climate impacts. Also, current agricultural production systems are negatively affected by climate change with an increase in poverty rates between 2% to 3%. The projected adoption of the adapted technology would result in positive increased net returns and a decrease in poverty rate of between 12%and 22%. The results of this study show that implementing adaptation measures and other strategies as indicated by the local stakeholders will have positive impacts on the agricultural production systems and can contribute to support and inform climate change policy decision making such as the development of National Adaptation Plans.

Integrated assessment↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Space Crop Production

This is an outreach presentation on space crop production and our Veggie experimentation.

Plants↗
NASA NTRS2017

The Past and Future Changes in Climate of the Rice-Wheat Cropping Zone in Punjab, Pakistan

Agriculture is ranked top among Pakistan economic sectors vulnerable to the potential impacts of climate change. The agricultural production system is directly affected by weather inputs (temperature, solar radiation, and rainfall) that are projected to change in future (following increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses). Although Climatic extremes such as drought, floods and heat waves, are expected to increase with detrimental consequences for agriculture and livestock production, yet changes in mean climates also pose challenges to sustainable development. This study presents climate change results for five districts within the major rice-wheat productivity zone of Punjab province in Pakistan. The results are focused on RCP8.5 mid-century (2040-2069) scenarios derived from five global climate models (GCMs) output and the Kharif (June-October) and Rabi (November-April) seasons. Analysis of recent historical weather data of Sialkot and Sheikhupura districts shows an increase in minimum temperatures and maximum temperatures and a large variation in rainfall. This temperature change and variability in rainfall are expected to enhance further as we approach 2050s. The mean maximum temperature is projected to increase by 2-2.5 ºC during the rice growing (Kharif) season and 2.4-2.7ºC during the wheat growing (Rabi) season. Rainfall during the rice growing season is more uncertain, with projections indicating an increase of 25%-35 % in the study region, while a minimal change is expected during the Rabi season. Climax of the rice growing season corresponds with the projected increase in monsoon intensity, leaving no doubt about the crop water demand satisfaction. However, a simultaneous increase in the day and night temperature may affect the growth and development of some critical phenological stages and thus could impact final yield.

Climate Change↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Effects of Plasma Application on Radish Seeds with Implications for Space Crop Production

In extended space missions, the astronaut diet will consist mostly of prepackaged foods. This could result in nutritional deficiencies due to the gradual breakdown of certain vitamins. To address this deficiency, fresh produce must be grown from seed during spaceflight. Stored seeds, however, can be vulnerable to microbial contamination which could jeopardize plant health and crop food safety. To alleviate this concern, the current practice is to sanitize seeds on the ground before spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). Methods of seed sanitization include alcohol soaking and chlorine gas fumigation, which have harmful effects on the environment and human health. Plasma application is a new sanitization approach that avoids these negative side effects while potentially elevating germination rate and improving growth rate; yet plasma application requires specific exposure time, power, and pressure to achieve these benefits. In the present study, Raphanus sativus ‘Cherry Belle’ radish seeds were exposed to either low pressure (Diener) plasma or atmospheric pressure plasma for varying increments of time (30s-1200s). Data collected includes immediate germination rate (viability) and microbial log reduction. Additionally, seeds were stored for later germination rate testing. Microbial assay controls have highlighted variability in initial microbial load between individual seeds, and further work is being performed to determine the standard microbial load of an untreated seed. In some samples, a negative log reduction was observed after plasma treatment encouraging further study to determine if the plasma is perforating the seed coat and releasing endophytic microbes. Treatment with Diener plasma shows promising microbial log reduction, but lower viability. In contrast, treatment with atmospheric pressure plasma offers high viability, but poor microbial log reduction. Further study will aim at determining whether plasma treatment is effective at not only sanitization, but sterilization. This research was funded by a NASA grant at the Kennedy Space Center.

Plasma↗
NASA NTRS2021

USA Crop Yield Estimation with MODIS NDVI: Are Remotely Sensed Models Better Than Simple Trend Analyses?

Crop yield forecasting is performed monthly during the growing season by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The underpinnings are long-established probability surveys reliant on farmers’ feedback in parallel with biophysical measurements. Over the last decade though, satellite imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has been used to corroborate the survey information. This is facilitated through the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies/Global Agricultural Monitoring system, which provides open access to pertinent real-time normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data. Hence, two relatively straightforward MODIS-based modeling methods are employed operationally. The first model constitutes mid-season timing based on the maximum peak NDVI value, while the second is reflective of late-season timing by integrating accumulated NDVI over a threshold value. Corn model results nationally show the peak NDVI method provides a R^(2) of 0.88 and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 3.5%. The accumulated method, using an optimally derived 0.58 NDVI threshold, improves the performance to 0.93 and 2.7%, respectively. Both these models outperform simple trend analysis, which is 0.48 and 7.4%, correspondingly. For soybeans the R^(2) results of the peak NDVI model are 0.62, and 0.73 for the accumulated using a 0.56 threshold. CVs are 6.8% and 5.7%, respectively. Spring wheat’s R2performance with the accumulated NDVI model is 0.60 but just 0.40 with peak NDVI. The soybean and spring wheat models perform similarly to trend analysis. Winter wheat and upland cotton show poor model performance, regardless of method. Ultimately, corn yield forecasting derived from MODIS imagery is robust, and there are circumstances when forecasts for soybeans and spring wheat have merit too.

crop yield↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Effects of Plasma Application on Radish Seeds with Implications for Space Crop Production

In extended space missions, the astronaut diet will consist mostly of prepackaged foods. This could result in nutritional deficiencies due to the gradual breakdown of certain vitamins. To address this deficiency, fresh produce must be grown from seed during spaceflight. Stored seeds, however, can be vulnerable to microbial contamination which could jeopardize plant health and crop food safety. To alleviate this concern, the current practice is to sanitize seeds on the ground before spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). Methods of seed sanitization include alcohol soaking and chlorine gas fumigation, which have harmful effects on the environment and human health. Plasma application is a new sanitization approach that avoids these negative side effects while potentially elevating germination rate and improving growth rate; yet plasma application requires specific exposure time, power, and pressure to achieve these benefits. In the present study, Raphanus sativus ‘Cherry Belle’ radish seeds were exposed to either low pressure (Diener) plasma or atmospheric pressure plasma for varying increments of time (30s-1200s). Data collected includes immediate germination rate (viability) and microbial log reduction. Additionally, seeds were stored for later germination rate testing. Microbial assay controls have highlighted variability in initial microbial load between individual seeds, and further work is being performed to determine the standard microbial load of an untreated seed. In some samples, a negative log reduction was observed after plasma treatment encouraging further study to determine if the plasma is perforating the seed coat and releasing endophytic microbes. Treatment with Diener plasma shows promising microbial log reduction, but lower viability. In contrast, treatment with atmospheric pressure plasma offers high viability, but poor microbial log reduction. Further study will aim at determining whether plasma treatment is effective at not only sanitization, but sterilization. This research was funded by a NASA grant at the Kennedy Space Center.

Space Crop Production↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Evaluating Microgreens Crop Readiness for Space Production

Microgreens are small-size, nutrient-rich, and fast-grown crops, which are considered as candidates for future space exploration missions. In particular, the ISS, the Lunar Gateway, and Mars and Lunar missions could benefit from growing microgreens to supplement astronaut diets in the near future. Research at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center has focused on (1) the selection of microgreens compatible species, (2) the evaluation of microgreens food safety, (3) the use of passive wicking, on-demand watering, and hydroponics cultivation, (4) simulated microgravity growth, (5) microgreen canopy gas exchange, and (6) harvesting techniques in microgravity. This interactive presentation summarizes this research. Microgreen species will be evaluated for their yield in relationship to the quantity of inputs – water, seeds, substrate, light intensity, photoperiod, crew time – required for their growth; for their organoleptic and sensory factors in order to down select species that are highly acceptable for humans; and for their microbial loads as detected in their growth environment and the food safety metrics of their edible tissue. Passive wicking, on-demand watering, and hydroponic systems are being studied as an efficient way to deliver essential nutrients and water to microgreens, included in a microgravity environment. Growth studies in simulated microgravity (using 3-dimensional clinostats) will assess microgreens growth relative to that in 1g. Gas exchange studies on microgreens canopies in various airflows will assess their photosynthesis and transpiration. Finally, a series of parabolic flights has enabled the evaluation of different harvesting and bagging techniques in microgravity. Indeed, traditional plant harvesting methods (scissors) in microgravity could generate significant microgreen debris in the space station cabin. Two innovative techniques, coupled to a dedicated bagging method, were designed and evaluated against the control, traditional, harvesting technique. This research was supported by grants from NASA KSC’s Independent Research and Technology Development Program, NASA’s Flight Opportunity Program, NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowships (L.P. & C.J.) supported by NASA’s Space Biology program, and support from NASA’s Human Research Program.

Space Crop Production↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Space Crop Production and Exploration Food Systems

A virtual presentation to the University of North Dakota (UND) Space Studies Colloquium providing both an historical overview as well as NASA's current and future plans for crop production in support of exploration.

Crops↗
NASA NTRS2024

Pick-and-Eat Space Crop Production Flight Testing on the International Space Station

Fresh, nutritious, palatable produce for crew consumption on long-duration spaceflight missions may provide health-promoting, bioavailable nutrients and enhance the dietary experience. VEG-04A and VEG-04B explored growing leafy greens on the International Space Station using the Veggie Vegetable Production System. Two flight tests with ground controls were conducted in 2019 growing mizuna mustard, where Veggie chambers were set to different red-to-blue-to-green light formulations. Light quality affects plant growth, nutrition, microbiology, and organoleptic characteristics on Earth, and we examined how these vary in microgravity and under different harvest scenarios. Astronauts harvested and weighed mizuna and completed organoleptic evaluations. Flight samples were returned to Earth for nutritional quality and microbial food safety analyses. Yield and chemistry differed between ground and flight samples and light treatments, and bacterial and fungal counts were lower in ground than in flight samples. This research helps increase our understanding of the requirements for growing high-quality crops in spaceflight.

Food Safety, International Space Station, Nutritio↗