• Mars Farming Gets Green Thumbs-Up
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[QUOTE] * By Brandon Keim Email Author * August 18, 2010 | * 9:00 am | * Categories: Agriculture, Space * [IMG]http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2010/07/marsgarden.jpg[/IMG] Mars explorers could use complicated mechanical systems to produce oxygen and filter waste, and eat food carried from Earth. Or they could just save a lot of hassle and plant crops. A model of Martian gravity’s effects on water flow, nutrient dynamics and root-feeding microbes suggests it’s possible to farm in the Red Planet’s soil. “In terms of biogeochemistry and in interms of hydraulics, I’m pretty confident it could work,” said Federico Maggi, a University of Sydney biogeochemist who conducted the simulation. Growing plants in soil on Mars might seem old-fashioned for those raised on the futuristic prospect of hydroponic or aeroponic agriculture, in which crops sprout soil-free nutrient broths or mists. But in recent years, starry-eyed biologists have come to appreciate the importance of soil-dwelling microbes to plant roots and soil processes. Moreover, soil-based agriculture is backed by thousands of years of human-based research and development, and millions of years of natural evolution. “Mechanical systems are very reliable over short-term expeditions,” said Maggi. “But soil can control itself. In terms of operation error, it’s more reliable. Plants provide more benefits in terms of energy and health. And real soil performs operations that other systems cannot.” However, there are many unknowns about extraterrestrial agricultural biology. Among the most important is how low gravity will affect the flow of water and nutrients, and in turn microbes. Once water and nutrients get into the plants, capillary action will take care of the rest. But getting them there is the key. “If there’s low gravity, water will not flow down so quick. The transport of nutrients would also be slower. If transport of nutrients towards root microorganisms is not fast enough, it will suffocate them,” said Maggi. In a July Advances in Space Research study, Maggi and University of California, Berkeley biogeophysicist Céline Pallud simulated both Mars- and Earth-gravity root processes using BIOTOUGHREACT, a well-regarded model of soil nutrient transport and microbe dynamics developed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The simulation suggests that slower water transport is actually a good thing, preventing water from falling through the soil and being lost, along with the nitrogen it absorbs on the way. At Mars gravity — about one-third of Earth’s — up to 90 percent less water would be needed than in a terrestrial greenhouse, said the researchers. Much less nitrogen would also be needed. “You don’t have a leaching of nutrients. The nutrients you put into the soil, remain in the soil. You don’t lose them,” said Maggi. The simulated bacteria thrived on all this extra food, reaching densities between five and 10 times the usual. According to University of Florida agricultural engineer Ray Bucklin, an advisor to the Mars Foundation and author of several NASA reports on Mars greenhouse design, the nitrogen savings could be especially important. “Mars is nitrogen-depleted,” and any fertilizer would need to come from Earth, he said. “And in terms of the soil microbes, they would be in a pretty beneficial situation.” Bucklin warned that the real-world water savings would likely be much less than 90 percent. “Water movement through a plant has several other things that influence it besides what happens in the soil,” he said. At low gravity and low atmospheric pressure, “water movement through the plant would be accelerated.” But Bucklin still said the study “is interesting and needed to be done.” According to NASA plant physiologist Raymond Wheeler, most extraterrestrial crop researchers have used hydroponics or artificial soil, “which simplify their testing and allow easy recycling of water and nutrients.” But real soils “might have certain advantages,” including better waste degradation and a built-in buffer against water shortages or equipment malfunction. Maggi plans to perform more simulations on how other important plant nutrients, such as potassium and iron, will behave. Of course, the ultimate tests will come on Mars itself, and NASA’s budget problems have put a damper on such dreams. But even if NASA has problems, other programs — especially the European Space Agency — intend to have people on Mars by mid-century. Private enterprise could also sponsor the voyage. “We already have the engineering to put a base on Mars,” said Bucklin. “If Bill Gates wanted to blow his whole fortune, he could do it right now.” Image: NASA. Read More [url]http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/mars-farming/#ixzz0wz1cdvUh[/url] [/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/mars-farming/[/url]
That's pretty cool.
I always thought a good idea for Martian terraforming is genetically engineered lichen/moss. But Bucklin has a point in the last part of the article, there needs to be SOME billionaire that would rather fund the greatest achievement in human history over doing something every person with money is doing.
Fuck yeah! One more step to colonization! :buddy:
You realize if we did this, if Mars has never had life on it before, we'll have seeded it Of course Mars probably did have life at one point, it did have Water
[QUOTE]“Mars is nitrogen-depleted,” and any fertilizer would need to come from Earth, he said.[/QUOTE] That would probably be quite troublesome, at least at first. Moving hundreds, if not thousands of tons of manure will take a while to organized and get to the colony. Though, if it were possible, could always attempt to transport cows to there. I mean...humans can't be the only animals going over to Mars forever, they would have to go eventually, right?
If you can't obtain fertilizer you just install algae tanks. It may not sound as... Tasty as farming for vegetables but Spirulina can grow in a simple algae tank provided with power and water, both available on Mars.
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;24161676]If you can't obtain fertilizer you just install algae tanks. It may not sound as... Tasty as farming for vegetables but Spirulina can grow in a simple algae tank provided with power and water, both available on Mars.[/QUOTE] Hey, if it works, it works. If you're going to survive on a foreign, hostile planet, who cares about taste. I still like my cow idea though. You can always have steak for dinner with your veggies :v:
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;24161676]If you can't obtain fertilizer you just install algae tanks. It may not sound as... Tasty as farming for vegetables but Spirulina can grow in a simple algae tank provided with power and water, both available on Mars.[/QUOTE] Sounds like the end story of "I, Robot" where they have genetically engineered algae to produce certain proteins/enzymes/carbohydrates/lipids so that, when consumed, they mimic the taste of other foods in all but consistency.
[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;24161719]Sounds like the end story of "I, Robot" where they have genetically engineered algae to produce certain proteins/enzymes/carbohydrates/lipids so that, when consumed, they mimic the taste of other foods in all but consistency.[/QUOTE] Science fiction tends to lead the way to science reality. Who knows, maybe it'll happen just like that one day.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;24161567] I mean...humans can't be the only animals going over to Mars forever, they would have to go eventually, right?[/QUOTE] As far as I know I'm a human, not an animal. Furry section is that way --->
[QUOTE=IliekBoxes;24161753]As far as I know I'm a human, not an animal. Furry section is that way --->[/QUOTE] Uh, scientifically speaking, you're an animal. Your species is human.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;24161743]Science fiction tends to lead the way to science reality. Who knows, maybe it'll happen just like that one day.[/QUOTE] It doesn't sound completely impossible for modern science, and it [B]WAS [/B]Isaac Asimov, who had a Ph.D in biochemistry.
[QUOTE=IliekBoxes;24161753]As far as I know I'm a human, not an animal. Furry section is that way --->[/QUOTE] Humans are intelligent animals.
[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;24161781]It doesn't sound completely impossible for modern science, and it [B]WAS [/B]Isaac Asimov, who had a Ph.D in biochemistry.[/QUOTE] I can imagine the massive yeast farms covering Mars now :v:
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;24161835]I can imagine the massive yeast farms covering Mars now :v:[/QUOTE] Hurra for beer on Mars :cheers:
Just start growing stuff like how any island would begin to start its life off with. Lichens, then moss, then grasses, then shrubs, then small tress, then large ones.
[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;24162336]Just start growing stuff like how any island would begin to start its life off with. Lichens, then moss, then grasses, then shrubs, then small tress, then large ones.[/QUOTE] Oh god this.If they do this one of the many cluster fucks of dreams I have will come true.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;24161853]Hurra for beer on Mars :cheers:[/QUOTE] You just made me imagine Dwarf Fortress on Mars. How terribly awesome.
They can't even return to the moon, so I won't read this. This is just sf.
[QUOTE=Ickylevel;24164613]They can't even return to the moon, so I won't read this. This is just sf.[/QUOTE] Pffft. The moon is for losers like China. Real space agencies look to Mars!
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;24164921]Pffft. The moon is for losers like China. Real space agencies look to Mars![/QUOTE] My physics teacher actually believes that China is going to be the country that makes a lot of space exploration stuff happen eventually. I think he's a little bit paranoid :v: (I don't think he's wrong though)
[QUOTE=BaconDioxide;24165084]My physics teacher actually believes that China is going to be the country that makes a lot of space exploration stuff happen eventually. I think he's a little bit paranoid :v:[/QUOTE] Well they do have a goal to put a Chinese man on the moon by 2020. I wouldn't think that's paranoid if they've stated it. China has a pretty good space agency that I'm sure will one day rival NASA.
Are those Cannabis plants?
[QUOTE=farmatyr;24165206]Are those Cannabis plants?[/QUOTE] Well there aren't any anti drug laws on Mars :smug:
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;24165182]Well they do have a goal to put a Chinese man on the moon by 2020. I wouldn't think that's paranoid if they've stated it. China has a pretty good space agency that I'm sure will one day rival NASA.[/QUOTE] I don't mean to say it in a bad way, I value his judgement too because he's awesome. He just gives me this vibe that he is afraid of China or something. I agree, I think China will do more stuff in space, and this is in no way a bad thing.
[QUOTE=BaconDioxide;24165257]I don't mean to say it in a bad way, I value his judgement too because he's awesome. He just gives me this vibe that he is afraid of China or something. I agree, I think China will do more stuff in space, and this is in no way a bad thing.[/QUOTE] I think, regardless of what nation it is, any step into space is a step of humanity, not any particular nation, so I agree with that. It's just a bit of national pride I suppose, that people want [I]their[/I] nation to be the number one. Even though in the greater scheme of history, it really doesn't matter who gets there, so long as we do.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;24165353]I think, regardless of what nation it is, any step into space is a step of humanity, not any particular nation, so I agree with that. It's just a bit of national pride I suppose, that people want [I]their[/I] nation to be the number one. Even though in the greater scheme of history, it really doesn't matter who gets there, so long as we do.[/QUOTE] I agree with this. UK doesn't even do much stuff in space on its own anyway. ...yet. I can't wait to see what UKSA eventually does.
I want to live on my farm on mars. With my quiet little cottage, raising my babies with Eudoxia.
[quote]“We already have the engineering to put a base on Mars,” said Bucklin.[/quote] DO IT do it spacemans
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