Geschlossenes ökologisches System

An ecological system including human occupants is substantially completely isolated from the earth's environment insofar as transfer of matter is concerned. The system is open insofar as energy and information are concerned. The closed system is maintained in balance by including a diversity of plants, animals, microorganisms and the like, which cooperate to close cycles of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc. Intensive agriculture is practiced by the human occupants to provide balanced nutrition for themselves and for any domesticated animals and fish which may be included in the system. The soil layer in which agriculture is practiced is aerated for growth of soil microoganisms which can remove various noxious gases from the system. A wilderness module is also included with a broad variety of plants, animals and ecological niches. The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere in such a system may be controlled by varying the water applied to plants, particularly C4 grasses, for varying their growth rate. Such a system is under construction in Arizona.