Investigating the use of Fabric-Based Materials as Soil Alternatives for Growing Food in Constrained Environments.

• This project investigates whether fabric-based substrates can serve as effective soil alternatives for crop cultivation in constrained settings— including conflict zones, dense urban environments, and potential future extraterrestrial missions.

• This project will explore the following research questions:
1) Can fabric-based substrates effectively replace soil for supporting crop growth in constrained environments (Conflict Areas, Dense Urban Environments, Extraterrestrial)?
2) How do different fabric materials differ in their capacity to absorb, retain, and release water?
3) How do the wetting and drying curves of the selected fabrics compare to those of an ideal reference growth medium (long-fiber peat moss)?

• By identifying lightweight, portable, and readily available growth media, this research supports the Army’s priority to enhance operational sustainment, logistical agility, and Soldier self-sufficiency in contested or resource-scarce environments. Sustaining reliable food production in environments where soil is limited, degraded, or entirely absent is a growing challenge for the Army, the Department of Defense, and the Nation.