Employees of the FGBNU AFI, with the active consulting participation of polar explorers of the 65-69 RAE AARI and in coordination with the AARI and the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, created and presented at the exhibition a model of “Phytotechnical complexes-greenhouses 1 and 2 with plants indoors at the Antarctic Vostok station”, as well as publications of research results from 2020 until 2024 on testing the specified plant growing systems using the example of various leaf and leafy vegetable crops.
The model demonstrates working phytotechnical greenhouse complexes 1 and 2, which automatically ensure the cultivation of a wide range of vegetable and melon crops at the Antarctic Vostok station. The two-tier phytotechnical complex-greenhouse-1 is located in the living quarters of the magnetologist and is intended for growing plants up to 0.4 m high. Phytotechnical complex-greenhouse-2 is located in the mess room of the station's radio house and is intended for growing plants up to 2 m high or more.
On the model you can see the outlines of part of the snow-covered Vostok station with the entrance, as well as the interior of two rooms where phytotechnical complexes-greenhouses 1 and 2 with tomato, lettuce, watermelon and cucumber plants are located.
The idea of placing a greenhouse at the station belongs to the polar explorer of the 11th SAE, chief researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Problems, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Ilyin. His initiative was supported by the heads and employees of three institutes of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute" (AARI), the State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation "Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences" (IMBP) and the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Agrophysical Research Institute" (AFI) and within the framework of a tripartite cooperation agreement, joint research work began in 2019. At AFI, in accordance with the requirements for size and electrical power from AARI, phytotechnical greenhouse complexes-1 (2019) and 2 (2021) were created, which implemented the original resource-saving technology of thin-layer panoponics. To grow plants in phytotechnical complexes-greenhouses-1 and 2, a thin-layer soil substitute, nutrient solutions and specially selected lighting, the spectrum of which is close to sunlight, were used. In the plant growth zone in the greenhouse phytotechnical complexes, air conditions favorable for plants were maintained - air temperature and humidity. Plants for testing were selected for high taste, speed of development, productivity and ability to adapt to low atmospheric pressure and oxygen deficiency.
As a result of joint tests carried out at Vostok station since 2020, a system for growing more than 100 varieties of various leaf and leafy vegetable crops has been developed. Among them are sorrel, arugula, kale, watercress, mustard and turnip greens, salad crops, amaranth, chard, purslane, parsley, dill, basil, spinach and others. Harvests of four varieties of tomato, three varieties of sweet pepper, three cucumber hybrids, and two varieties of watermelon were obtained. During the tests, it was possible to establish that in two greenhouses of different types per 1 sq. meter of area per year, you can grow up to 100 kg of cucumber fruits and up to 40 kg of watermelon berries, up to 149 kg of kale and many other leafy and leafy vegetable crops, as well as up to 36.5 kg and up to 11 kg of tomato and sweet pepper fruits, respectively. The possibility of multi-level placement of phytotechnical complexes (PTK) allows you to increase productivity many times over.
Compared to modern greenhouse complexes using hydroponic technologies with artificial illumination and controlled microclimate conditions, the yield of the most adapted leafy and leafy vegetable crops in the greenhouse at Vostok station is 1.2-2 times higher. In comparison with data in greenhouses at foreign Antarctic stations, in Russian phytotechnical complexes-greenhouses 1 and 2 at Vostok station, the productivity of plant products per day is 11-23% higher, electrical energy costs and water consumption are 1.4-1.8 times lower and 2.6 times respectively.
The unique natural conditions at the Antarctic Vostok station make it possible to conduct interesting studies of the resistance of populations of various crops to hypobaric hypoxia, etc. In parallel with the research at the station, experiments are being conducted on growing the same crops at the AFI agrobiological site in favorable controlled conditions for plants. Indicators of growth, development, and productivity of plants at the station and the agro-biopolygon are compared and varieties and hybrids are selected that are most adapted to the conditions of the Vostok station.
The stable and highly productive operation of the greenhouses at the Vostok station made it possible to grow plants not only for scientific research, but also as a regularly produced food supplement with valuable nutritional properties to the standard diet. Fresh vegetable crops grown at Vostok station are a source of vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, fiber and other biologically active substances of natural origin, so necessary for polar explorers during their long stay at the station.
Along with the food function, growing plants and their appearance creates a favorable psychological and emotional background. The absolute majority (90% of respondents) of expedition participants expressed positive expectations from the presence of plants at the station, 40% of respondents noted the importance of the decorative aspect of plants. At the end of wintering, about 60% of participants pointed to the positive psychological impact of plants and noted a preference for spending time near them.
