Farming is possible on Mars, says Dutch researcher

A Dutch ecologist said that the cultivation of various plant species, including food plants, is possible on soil of planet Mars, Xinhua reports. Mars / Wikipedia In an interview with Xinhua, Wieger Wamelink of Dutch research institute Alterra of Wageningen University said researchers have found that it is possible to grow different types of plants in the soil of Mars. Researchers did an experiment with 14 plant species on artificial Martian and lunar soil, provided by NASA. A total of 840 pots were planted with 4,200 seeds, and the experiment lasted 50 days. "The outcome was quite a big surprise," Wamelink said. "Some species such as rye and cress were already sprouting within 24 hours. Eventually plants on Mars soil were even blossoming. We fertilized them with a brush, with some even seeding. It was exciting to watch. Tomato plants were growing and carrot plants even had small carrots, cress formed seeds." All plants germinated in the Martian soil. However, lunar soil did not prove fruitful. Wamelink said he expects that people will be able to move and stay at the moon within 10 to 15 years. "Mars will take more time, with a one-way journey of more than six months to get there. I am 47 years old and do not want to go to Mars, but I would definitely like to go to the moon and back. It will take time, but eventually humans will grow food on the moon and Mars. It's good to know that you do not need to carry sand with you," Wamelink said. The research project was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Read More