Scientists suggest using alfalfa as a fertilizer to improve soil fertility.
Despite the low nutrient content of Martian soil and the high salinity of the water making it unsuitable for growing food crops on Mars, scientists have found a plant that should be grown first. This is reported by PLOS One.
In particular, experts suggest using alfalfa on Mars as a fertilizer to improve soil fertility. After that on Red Planet it is possible to plant plants that do not require special care – radishes, lettuce, and turnips.
The tests carried out, in which the laboratory imitates the composition of the volcanic soil, proved that the plant grows well in the Martian soil.
Moreover, experts found that the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 effectively desalinates water that simulates brackish water and desalination can be further enhanced by filtration through basalt-type volcanic rocks.
The study also shows that it is possible to grow food crops using alfalfa treated with basalt regolith from Martian soil as a substrate, irrigated with biodesalted water.
It was previously reported that scientists from the University of Iowa in the Martian soil laboratory have grown turnips, radishes and lettuce.
Find out which areas of Mars are covered by water
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Source: korrespondent
