Astronauts have already grown edible zinnias in space -- and now scientists back on Earth have managed to grow ten new crops in soil designed to simulate conditions on Mars.
A team from Wageningen University & Research centre in the Netherlands have grown crops including tomatoes, rye, radish, pea, leek, spinach, garden rocket, cress, quinoa and chives in soil made to simulate what could be made by combining organic compounds with the 'soil' on both Mars and the moon.
The experiment was intended to "provide a basis for growing crops on Mars" to feed potential human settlers, and is one in a series of previously unsuccessful attempts.
"This time, we used trays instead of small pots and added organic material (fresh cut grass) to the Mars and moon soil simulant," said Wieger Wamelink, lead researcher, in a press release. "This solved the problem we had with watering in the first experiment and also added manure to the soils."
Using trays, Wamelink says, showed the biggest improvements -- though most of the plants died during the first experiment, the addition of the trays allowed the crops to "flourish".
The plants were grown in these trays in greenhouses which were constantly monitored for temperature, humidity and light conditions. They were also cultivated in an "under earth atmosphere" to simulate atmosphere in space. They did not bombard the crops with radiation, cold temperatures or attempt to simulate low gravity, or other difficult conditions that might be experienced on other worlds.
The team say that the soil showed "great potential" if properly prepared.
There is one drawback -- although the crops grown aboard the ISS were able to be eaten, the Earth grown crops were poisonous. "The soils contain heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury and also a lot of iron," said Wamelink. "If the components become available for the plants, they may be taken up and find their way into the fruits, making them poisonous."
The team now plan to crowdfund their third experiment, which will focus on making the plants edible and safe.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
