The scientists grew potatoes in “Martian” soil
Preliminary results of an experiment on potato growing in conditions that simulate the Martian was positive, reports the international potato center (CIP) in Peru press release published on the organization’s website.
As the video taken with the camera inside a sealed container, the tubers were able to germinate even in fairly dry soil and low atmospheric pressure.
For several years, researchers conduct experiments on cultivation of agricultural cultures in conditions as close to Mars. With their help scientists hope to determine whether the plants to survive on another planet, and how they will be suitable for human consumption.
Research has shown that some cultures do are able to exist under the low atmospheric pressure and humidity, however, the number of such experiments is still too small to clearly judge the viability of the plant.
A new experiment of the International centre of potato (CIP) and space Agency NASA was launched on 14 February 2016. Researchers from the Peruvian University of engineering and technology has created a special platform based on CubeSat satellite, which was placed camera with soil from the desert of pampas de La Hoya — one of the driest places on Earth.
Inside a sealed installation agronomists reproduced Martian temperature, atmospheric pressure, as well as appropriate levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air
The soil fertilized with water in which was dissolved nutrients (chemical composition of soil and fertilizer, the researchers did not report, however, it is worth noting that in real Martian soil contained in a large amount of salt perchloric acid (perchlorate).
The condition of the plants was monitored with a camera mounted on a modified CubeSat, which round the clock watched the ground.
It turned out that the potato is able to grow in even arid soil (the video shows the plants planted in 2017).
The researchers also don’t say what variety of potato was used for this experiment.
The experts concluded that future colonists will probably still be able to grow potatoes on Mars, but they will have to pre-saturate the soil with nutrients and to loosen it that they get enough air and water. In the future, agronomists plan to continue their research and determine the sufficient minimum for the cultivation of potatoes.
This is the second such experiment of the International centre for potatoes. As reported by scientists last year, it was selected 100 types of potatoes that are already pre-tested for survival in the “Martian” conditions.
Among the selected candidates, 40 species are native to the Andes mountains in rocky and arid conditions and can withstand sudden changes in the weather, and the remaining 60 — genetically modified varieties that are adapted to survive in soils with a low content of water and salts.
In 2015, experiment in growing agricultural crops is also conducted by scientists from Holland
They planted ten species of plants in the soil, as similar to the Martian and lunar soil.
Despite the fact that the researchers were able to harvest, it should be noted that all samples were in greenhouse conditions at a constant temperature, humidity and lighting.
Christina Ulasovich