[The role of higher plants in the human biological life support system]

This paper discusses the functional characteristics of the man-plant-mineralization system and the environment it forms when it is supplemented with a photoautotrophic component including higher plants and algae. The functional characteristics of the higher plant component were studied when it operated first in an independent cultivation mode, then coupled with a biological system of human and biocomplex waste mineralization, and finally with a human gas exchange system and Chlorella containing photosynthetic reactors. This approach demonstrated for the first time that Chlorella and higher plants can normally work in a common autosphere. The paper also presents quantitative data about the use of higher plants in a biological life support system. Data analysis shows that the total plant yield did not diminish when the system was closed and man, mineralization system and algal reactors were connected. However although the total photosynthetic productivity remained unchanged, the yield of useful crops decreased. This points to a complex nature of the above effects, the causes of which remain so far inexplicable and require further study.