As scientists are getting closer and closer to the prospect

of humans on Mars, the topic of gardening on Mars is

becoming very prevalent. If humans want to inhabit

Mars, gardening and agriculture is a necessity. Not

only would the plants produce oxygen to make Mars

more inhabitable for humans, but astronauts can use the

remains of crops as compost and make the soil mineral-

rich. The crucial things for humans on Mars are the

availability of oxygen, shelter, food, and water, not just

endless consumables delivered to the planet from Earth.

For humans to live long-term on Mars, they will need a

self-sustaining habitat to be able to thrive in for

generations. If it costs $80,000 to transport water to the

moon, the price of transporting other supplies in addition

to water to Mars would be astronomical.

Overview andIntroduction to Life andAgriculture on MarsWhat does life and farming look like? Is it

even possible?

GARDENING ON THERED PLANET

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OVERVIEW ANDINTRODUCTION TO LIFEON MARS

SOIL ON MARS ANDHOW TO CREATE MORENUTRIENTS

WATER ON MARS?

STEP BY STEP GUIDE ONBUILDING A GARDEN

I N T H I S G U I D E

By Daryn F

Having healthy soil for plants to grow in is one of the biggest problems with gardening on mars. In

“The Martian,” Mark Watney uses the Martian soil to grow potatoes in the controlled environment of

the “Hab”, but just collecting soil from the surface and planting crops in it is completely unrealistic.

Although Mars does have many of the nutrients plants need to survive, there might not be the right

amount of nutrients where the astronauts land. But this has an easy fix; just add fertilizer (possibly

feces) to meet the needs of the plants. One issue that is harder to address is the pervasive

perchlorates that are in Martian soil. Perchlorates are reactive chemicals that are commonly used in

munitions, fireworks, explosives, and pool chlorination chemicals. It was first detected on Mars in

arctic soil by NASA’s Phoenix lander that plopped down on Mars over 10 years ago in May 2008. Also,

NASA’s curiosity rover found rchlorates within the Gale Crater. However, there might be a solution.

Soil and MineralsHow do we incorporate more nutrients in the soil?

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Plants such as lettuce, potatoes, radishes, and mung bean

have been shown to grow in Mars-like conditions,

however, for the plants to live (and the humans to breathe)

they would need some sort of protection or greenhouse that

could keep the extreme UV radiation at bay and the biting

cold. In The Martian, a science fiction book by Andy Weir

and a blockbuster film starring Matt Damon, Mark Watney

manages to grow potatoes, but the plants freeze to death

almost instantly when he accidentally exposes his farm to

cold temperatures. Farming on Mars is possible, but lots of

processes need to be in place to achieve such an enormous

task. This guidebook will cover all the things you need to

know about gardening on Mars and give step-by-step

instructions on how to do it.

Obtaining water on Mars is one of the other major problems

regarding gardening on the red planet. Almost all water on

Mars today exists as ice, though it also exists in small

quantities as vapor in the atmosphere. So the problem isn't

finding water, its making it usable. One idea researchers had

was microwaving the ice to create water, but ice is only found

in the arctic regions of Mars, where astronauts would not be

landing. In the blockbuster film "The Martian", Mark Watney

nearly kills himself by trying to make water by burning

oxygen and hydrogen together because of a huge explosion.

This method isn't ideal for settlers on Mars because fire and

space equipment do not mix. However, researchers have also

created technology that turns urine into drinking water, and

water suitable for plants. Even though nothing has been set in

stone, usable water will be on Mars one way or another.

Water on Mars?How will we obtain water?

P H O T O B Y M A R T I N R . S M I T H

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Microbes on Earth use perchlorate for

an energy source. When there is too

much perchlorate in drinking water,

microbes are used to clean it up.

Researchers have proposed a

biochemical approach for the removal

of perchlorate from Martian soil that

would not only be energetically cheap

and environmentally friendly but until

more experiments are conducted and

more discoveries are made,

perchlorates will remain a huge

problem for organic life on Mars.

MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHORGardening on Mars is a very real possibility that we will have to face if we are to ever inhabit the plant.

We have a little more research and experimentation to do to be prepared to go to Mars, however, many of

the things I discuss should be ready in the near future. I hope this article taught you about the intricacies

of living on Mars and gave you some insight about finding resources on Mars.

STEP-BY-STEPINSTRUCTION GUIDE

O N B U I L D I N G A G A R D E N B E L O W .