抄録
Space agriculture has attracted attention
as a solution to the logistical and psychological
challenges of long-term missions, such as those
planned under the Artemis program. We
investigated the effect of soil pressure on the early
stage enlargement of sweet potato root tubers, a
promising crop for space agriculture. Growth
experiments were conducted under three soil
pressure treatments—low, high, and control—in
planters filled with different media. Sweet potatoes
were grown in a controlled environment, and
growth parameters, including the fresh weights of
shoots, roots, and root tubers, were measured 40
days after transplanting. Root lengths were
analyzed using WinRHIZO software. The results
showed a negative correlation between soil
pressure and the fresh weight of shoots and roots,
whereas root tubers indicated a positive correlation. Total root lengths decreased under the high pressure,
while the mass of fine-diameter roots remained relatively unchanged. These findings suggest that
moderate soil pressure may be beneficial for storage root development, although it may suppress the
growth of other organs. Our study highlights the importance of maintaining appropriate soil pressure in
microgravity environments to promote successful sweet potato growth.
