A tough plant "pioneer" can grow in Martian soil. customizing car, NASA-funded scientists designing plants can survive harsh conditions Mars. . "Our idea to enable plants survive Mars adding features microscopic organisms called extremophiles live the inhospitable environments .
Future Mars astronauts grow crops dirt avoid solely relying resupply missions, to grow greater amount variety food with hydroponics (SN: 11/4/11).
Now new study suggests way forward: alfalfa plants. forage crop be capable surviving tough volcanic soil that covers Mars, researchers determined, could then as fertilizer grow food turnips, radishes lettuce.
If humans to stand chance successfully setting a colony Mars, we're to to figure a of producing food the Red Planet.
A Texas undergrad investigating how grow vegetables Mars — has cultivated test samples English peas simulated Martian soil, fertilizer fly larvae.
According Dr. Ray Wheeler, lead scientist Kennedy Advanced Life Support Research, Prototype Lunar/Mars Greenhouse project support ongoing research space grow vegetables food cultivating plants sustain life support systems. . lighting grow plants," Wheeler said. "We have tested hybrids both .
The crops grown a glass house Earth's atmosphere, stable humidity, light, temperature - Wamelik explains this because "we expect first crop growth Mars Moon take place underground rooms protect plants the hostile environment".
Whether extends growing plants Mars the moon full soils remains open question. research needed the representativeness the simulants, water holding capacity other physical characteristics the soils, our results extend growing plants in full soil, availability reactive .
Researchers a to grow clover plants a microbial "buddy" will fill soil Mars nitrogen. Researchers find innovative to improve Martian soil the .
Scientists conducted plant experiments simulating Martian conditions volcanic soil Hawaii, is for similarity Martian soil. experiments that plants can grow in soils. are aspects future Mars explorers need consider growing plants that planet.
First plant on Mars by Samuel van der Hoeven | human Mars
