What plant could feed us on Mars?
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Loading... - Anthony Morgan
- 22 Aug 2022
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Conditions on the Red Planet are much harsher and the soil on it is no exception. Not only is the soil lean and lacking in organic matter and beneficial microbes, it is also highly saturated with salts and minerals, which is why most plants on Earth could never thrive in it.
A new scientific study, however, suggests a solution – alfalfa (medicago sativa).
Able to not only survive, but thrive in the highly inaccessible volcanic soil of a similar composition to that covering Mars, scientists believe it could make an extremely good foundation as a starter culture.
Over time, alfalfa would improve the soil on the plantations where it is grown, and in addition to food, its residues could be used for fertilization and additional enrichment of the soil where turnips, radishes and lettuce could later be grown.
"Due to the low content of nutrients in the soil of Mars and the high salinity of the water, crops would not be able to be grown. Therefore, it is essential to increase soil nutrients and reduce salinity in the long term," according to a new study published in the journal Plos One .
From alfalfa to salad
Previous research has shown that even those extremely hardy plant crops from Earth could not be successfully grown without bringing and adding fertilizer to the soil in which they would grow. That's where alfalfa comes in.
Experts have determined that alfalfa could grow in the Martian regolith without the addition of fertilizers. Read More…
