The research indicates that, to support plant life, Mars would need elevated atmospheric pressures, higher CO₂, and adequate temperatures, with at least a 110-sol (Martian day) growing season for trees

Study on greenhouse requirements on mars

Studies on greenhouses on Mars have considered a variety of factors, including

Design: Greenhouses could be deployable, inflatable, or cylindrical. They could be designed to be independent of electric lighting, or use a combination of natural and artificial light

Size: Greenhouses could be designed to provide a large growing area with minimal volume

Water usage: Greenhouses could use aeroponic systems to reduce water usage

Radiation protection: Greenhouses could be designed to protect astronauts from radiation

Food supply: Greenhouses could be designed to provide a significant portion of a crew’s food supply

Growing conditions: Greenhouses could be designed to optimize growing conditions for different plants

Plant selection: Greenhouses could grow a variety of plants, including leafy greens, herbs, and cherry tomatoes

Growing season: Greenhouses could be designed to provide a growing season of at least 110 Martian days

Greenhouse location

Greenhouses could be located in the low-lying Hellas Basin in the southern hemisphere

Atmospheric conditions

Greenhouses could be designed to support plant life by increasing atmospheric pressures and CO₂ levels

Regolith characteristics

The physical and chemical characteristics of Martian regolith could support plant development.

Ideally one the greenhouse would be covered with a material that allowed for maximal light transmission for plant growth, protected against ultraviolet light without being destroyed by it, and was strong enough to support 6 Page 10 a considerable pressure difference against the low ambient martian pressure (0.6 KPa)

Mars is not suitable for plants to survive without some significant changes to its conditions

Temperature: Mars is very cold, and at night the temperature can drop to -4° C. 

Atmosphere: Mars’ atmosphere is too thin and mostly carbon dioxide for plants to survive. The atmospheric pressure on Mars is less than 1 kilopascal (kPa), which is much lower than Earth’s atmospheric pressure of about 100 kPa. 

To grow plants on Mars, astronauts would need to create a pressurized, heated, and moist environment, such as a greenhouse. The greenhouse would also need to be artificially controlled to replicate optimal growing conditions

Some other considerations for growing plants on Mars include:

• Soil: Martian regolith would need to be mixed with fertilized soil to sustain plant life

Location: The first trees on Mars may be found in the equatorial regions

Since Mars has a very thin and cold atmosphere, plants grown on the planet would need to be in a greenhouse. This isn’t inherently a bad thing — Guinan said in an interview with the American Geophysical Union that the greenhouse plants could be part of the atmospheric recycling process for the Martian colony

Data from Viking mission of mars

The Viking missions to Mars returned a large amount of data, including images, temperature measurements, and evidence of ancient river beds

Images: The Viking orbiters returned 52,663 images of Mars, mapping 97% of the planet’s surface. The landers returned 4,500 photos of the landing sites

Temperature: The Viking landers recorded temperatures ranging from -123°F (-86°C) before dawn to -27°F (-33°C) in the afternoon. 

Surface material: The surface material at the landing sites was iron-rich clay. 

Atmospheric opacity: The landers monitored variations in atmospheric opacity over several Martian years. 

Atmospheric aerosols: The landers determined the mean size of the atmospheric aerosols

Seasonal dust storms: The Viking missions observed seasonal dust storms. 

Pressure changes: The Viking missions observed pressure changes

Transport of atmospheric gases: The Viking missions observed the transport of atmospheric gases between the polar caps

Evidence of ancient river beds: The Viking missions found evidence of ancient river beds and vast flooding

The Viking missions also tested the theory of general relativity by sending radio signals to the lander on Mars. The observed Shapiro delays of the signals matched the predictions of general relativity

While it found no traces of life, Viking 1 did help better characterize Mars as a cold planet with volcanic soil, a thin, dry carbon dioxide atmosphere, and striking evidence for ancient river beds and vast flooding

Terraforming requirements for plants growing on mars

They need to introduce ammonia-producing microbes into the Martian soil that will convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil for larger plants like grasses and mosses to grow. The bad news is that scientists estimate that this could take hundreds of years.

To grow plants on Mars, you’ll need to address several challenges, including

Temperature

Mars’s nighttime temperatures can drop below -100°F (-100°C), so you’ll need to protect plants from freezing. The growing season for trees should last at least 110 Martian days

Radiation

Mars’s thin atmosphere doesn’t block solar ultraviolet radiation like Earth’s atmosphere does, so plants will need protection from this during the day

Soil

Martian soil is poor in nutrients and contains toxic perchlorates. You can add fertilizer to the soil to help plants grow. You can also introduce microbes to the soil to convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form that plants can use

Air pressure

Mars has a relatively thin atmosphere and low surface pressure, so you’ll need to increase the air pressure

Light

Mars receives about two-thirds as much light annually as Earth, so you’ll need to grow crops in controlled environments like greenhouses or growth rooms

Some scientists are experimenting with adding genes from extremophiles, microscopic organisms that can survive in harsh environments on Earth, to plants to help them survive on Mars

What are the best things to grow on Mars?

Simulated Martian regolith was then tested with alfalfa added as a fertilizer. Turnips, radishes and lettuces – three plants that require little in the way of maintenance, grow quickly, and don’t need much water – were all grown successfully

How can plants survive on Mars?

The plants would probably be housed in a greenhouse on a Martian base, because no known forms of life can survive direct exposure to the Martian surface, with its extremely cold, thin air and sterilizing radiation. Even then, conditions in a Martian greenhouse would be beyond what ordinary plants could stand

What does Mars have that is necessary for plant growth?

Chief among these are nutrients containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (so-called NPK, after their chemical symbols). Fortunately, all the necessary nutrients have been detected in Martian regolith by Mars probes or in Martian meteorites that have landed on Earth

What are some benefits of living on Mars?

Health Benefits: Mars’ lower gravity may reduce health problems associated with long-term space travel. Educational Opportunities: Mars colonies could serve as educational hubs, inspiring students to pursue STEM fields. Adaptive Technology: The technology developed for Mars colonization can have applications on Earth

Does Mars have seasons?

Therefore, the cycle of seasons on Mars is similar to Earth’s—Mars also experiences the four seasons of summer, autumn, winter, and spring. When it is summer in the northern hemisphere of Mars, it is winter in the southern hemisphere, and vice versa

Mars good for farming?

… fresh water, and average temperatures of -81 degrees Fahrenheit, Mars is the most challenging environment in which humans have ever planned to produce food

Is agriculture possible on Mars? You can grow plants for food on Mars. The low gravity will not hinder growth, and plants can be designed for this environment

Can plants photosynthesize in Mars?

On Mars there’s a chicken-and-egg problem: the planet needs photosynthetic plants to make oxygen from carbon dioxide, but the climate must be warm enough and the soil conditions must be inviting to growth. In order for plants to thrive, scientists need to begin lower on the evolutionary ladder

What is the best crop to grow on Mars?

However, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, kale, dandelions, basil, garlic, and hops were particularly robust crops under Martian conditions. The greenhouse was too hot for peas and spinach, Guinan explained, or they probably would have survived, too

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