Biosphere 2 Agriculture: Test Bed for Intensive,Sustainable,Non-Polluting Farming Systems

Abstract

Biosphere 2, a virtually airtight facility for the study of biospheric and ecosystem processes, includes an agricultural area of about 0.2 hectare for growing food for its eight crew members. Since the commencement of an initial two-year closure experiment, this agricultural system has operated without use of toxic chemicals which might pollute the small reservoirs of air, water and soil. It has produced some 90% of the nutritional needs of the crew. Foods produced comprise a wide variety of crops, including grains, starches, vegetables and fruit and a limited amount of milk, eggs, fish and meat from aquaculture and domestic animals, Waste products from both the humans and domestic animals are processed by means of anaerobic and aerobic microbial and plant systems. Inedible crop biomass and animal manure is composted. Since Biosphere 2 is designed for long-term operation and study, soil fertility must be maintained while supporting its diverse crop rotations and intensive production. The agricultural component in Biosphere 2 allows for study of its impact on overall biospheric health and dynamics, including effects on CO₂ fluxes, nitrogen and other element cycling, and maintenance of good quality air and water.