[Conversion of plant waste on a solid substrate for a biological life support system of humans]

The level of waste processing and utilization of the resultant products in a biological life support system largely determines the degree of system closure. Straw degradation in the humus and an inert substrate was studied when straw was introduced once a month during 3 years. Following 5-6 cycles of straw degradation in the humus, there developed a stable soil biocomplex that functioned as a self-regulation system. After adaptation and completion of the soil biocomplex formation straw degradation in the humus developed at a rate that provided its complete degradation within a certain green-house area.