Mars New Study: Growing crops on Mars is not an easy task. The dust and soil there have neither organic matter nor beneficial microorganisms. In addition, the soil there is full of salt and minerals, making it difficult for most plants to survive there. Martian soil is low in nutrients and high in salinity, making it unsuitable for growing crops.
Highlights:
* Another discovery of scientists about the planet Mars
* Crops will be grown on Mars; the experiment is successful
* Also trying to increase the nutrition of Martian soil
Many organizations are preparing to send a human mission to Mars. Many problems must be faced for this, and research is also running on. One of these is to develop Agriculture on Mars. Because it will take some months to reach Mars, and in such a situation, it will not be possible to carry food from Earth for such a long time. According to a new study, scientists have discovered a plant that should be grown first on Mars.
Growing crops on Mars is a major problem
NASA is seriously researching and experimenting. But growing crops on Mars is not an easy task. The dust and soil there have neither organic matter nor beneficial microorganisms. In addition, the soil there is full of salt and minerals, making it difficult for most plants to survive there.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found a solution in alfalfa plants. Researchers have found that this food-providing crop can grow even in the hard volcanic soil of Mars. Not only this, it can be used as a fertilizer for growing turnips, radishes and salad leaves.
The researchers wrote in their paper that Martian soil is low in nutrients and high in salinity, making it unsuitable for growing crops. Therefore, long-term missions will need to work to increase the Martian soil's nutrition and reduce the water's salinity.