Space

Simulated Martian and lunar soils sprout their first crops

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The team successfully grew 10 crop species including tomato, rye, radish, pea, leek, spinach, garden rocket, cress, quinoa and chives
Wageningen University
The amount of above-ground biomass grown in the Martian soil was similar to that managed in regular potting compost used as a control, while the lunar soil yielded about half as much biomass
Wageningen University
The team successfully grew 10 crop species including tomato, rye, radish, pea, leek, spinach, garden rocket, cress, quinoa and chives
Wageningen University

When and if colonists ever arrive on Mars, they're going to need something to eat … on a long-term, ongoing basis. That's why several research groups are looking into the feasibility of growing crops on the Red Planet. One of those teams, from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, previously tried growing food plants in simulations of both lunar and Martian soil. Although those tests proved unsuccessful, that wasn't the case the most recent time around.

The soil simulants were provided by NASA, with the moon soil actually coming from a desert in Arizona, and the Mars soil coming from a Hawaiian volcano. Previously, plants grown in nothing but these soils died. This time, however, fresh-cut grass was added to the growing medium. This helped the soil to retain water, while also acting as a form of fertilizer.

As a result, the team successfully grew 10 crop species including tomato, rye, radish, pea, leek, spinach, garden rocket, cress, quinoa and chives. The amount of above-ground biomass grown in the Martian soil simulant was similar to that managed in regular potting compost used as a control, while the lunar soil simulant yielded about half as much biomass.

The amount of above-ground biomass grown in the Martian soil was similar to that managed in regular potting compost used as a control, while the lunar soil yielded about half as much biomass
Wageningen University

The growing took place in a greenhouse with consistent temperature, humidity and light conditions, and under earth atmosphere. "This is because we expect that first crop growth on Mars and moon will take place in underground rooms to protect the plants from the hostile environment including cosmic radiation," says team member Dr. Wieger Wamelink.

And no, the harvested crops weren't eaten. The soils contained heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury, and there were concerns that these could be taken up by the plants. That said, a crowdfunded third experiment is planned to begin in April, in which those concerns will be addressed. If it proves successful, backers will be invited to a project-end dinner consisting partially of "Martian" potatoes and beans.

Source: Wageningen University

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6 comments
Nik
Why bother with soil? Hydroponics are well established as a method of growing food without soil, thereby removing the chance of toxic substances being absorbed by the plants. What would be more pertinent is the extraction of the needed minerals from the Mars soils, without any toxic components.
Bob Flint
Unless you have the energy to create a stable breathable atmosphere, with a water supply then food is secondary, and can be cultivated either way.
Charles Barnard
We've grown vegetables in such soils before...as far back as 1970's.
No farmer would even plant in such soil without adding both biomass and (more importantly) microbiota.
Of course, you CAN grow crops in pure CaCl & water...
But for either place, you're best bet is aeroponics, which has the lowest overall water requirement of any form of horticulture.
Please, no one take _The Martian_ as a "fact based" howto for Mars. It's a good movie, but it's got loads of inaccuracies.
Frankly, we would be much better off spending time an energy building a lunar base (for materials) and orbital habitats at the LaGrange Points.
We need a couple generations of living and working in space to work out the potential problems, and that sort of research is best done close to home. We learn as much about living in space in orbit as we would in transit, and help is actually available.
A handful of solar power satellites would eliminate the need for using burnable fuels on our planet...and despite what people think, the Sun shines 24/7.
Stephen N Russell
Movie The Martian pointed the way from NASA etc research alone. & I favor 2 hydroponics.
Michael Raines
So glad that universities are finally catching up to what regular people like me have been doing for years. Congratulations
Grainpaw
So, what made it work was the addition of organic matter. Any organic gardener could have told them that. Plants evolved as part of a complex web of beneficial microbes and fungi, with which they have a symbiotic relationship. The whole system needs to be considered for best results. The nutrient content of the crop will be better than with just minerals. And, of course, the humanure should be composted and used as part of the system. On a sterile world of rocks and dust, every bit of organic matter is precious.