Building soil

nickname · 2007-07-30 18:11:33

RobertDyck,

Chopping out the entire group of plants that require full sun also chops out the ones that take additional advantage of it.
Some c3 plants can grow with less light but they produce less carbon products for weight and less c02 conversion for weight.

Your sort of right about the Calvin-Benson cycle , it was fist produced when co2 was higher but at a time 0xyen content in the atmosphere was much higher.

Per weight of atmosphere c02 was much more difficult to react with than any other time.
It makes some sense that an adaptation to collect more c02 from a more concentrated 0xygen atmosphere would happen at this point.

Anyway its a mute point about c3 and c4 as no plants will grow in 100% co2 atmosphere, well 99% anyway.

RobertDyck · 2007-07-30 19:45:20

Cyanobacteria will thrive in a CO2 atmosphere without O2. Remember I said that is one constituent of peat bogs, it fixes nitrogen. How much O2 does sphagnum moss need again?

Also realize the best source of carbon for greenhouse gasses is calcite and dolomite in the soil. You have to mine for fluoride minerals anyway, might as well use the carbonate minerals. That way you don't reduce the mass of CO2 gas while trying to increase atmospheric density. Calcite has chemical forumla Ca(CO3), while dolomite is CaMg(CO3)2. That means 3 oxygen atoms for every carbon. Greenhouse gasses are CF4, C2F6, SF6, CF3Br, and perhaps C3F8 and C4F10. Bromine is found in the soil as salt NaBr, and sulphur as gypsum Ca(SO4)·2(H2O) or jarosite KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6. This means a lot of oxygen. A common fluorine mineral on Earth is Fluorite, aka Fluorspar. Martyn Fogg's Terraforming book says on page 234 that about 10ppm (~0.01 mbar) greenhouse gasses would warm sufficiently to sublimate dry ice. This would mass 40 billion tons. A lot of gas, but also realize you will release 1.5 molecules of O2 for every molecule of CF4 or CF3Br, 3 molecules of O2 for every C2F5, 2 for SF6, 4.5 for C3F8 and 6 for C4F10. Assuming more light PFCs than heavy, we can expect twice as much oxygen as greenhouse gasses. That means 20ppm (~0.02 mbar) oxygen. Not a lot, but it is a start.

noosfractal · 2007-07-31 00:08:18

Just awesome data Midoshi. I can't believe how quickly we'll be able to start establishing these bogs. Even 2 mbar O2 won't be instantaneous though. I looked at how much energy it would take by electrolysis: 32 terrawatts for 100 years (yikes! current energy usage on Earth in all forms - coal, oil, nuclear, etc - is ~14 terrawatts). Any idea how long it will take algae to get us 2 mbar?

I tried to find some figures for back of the envelope calculations.

Most cyanobacteria oxygen production rates were given for full sun on a clear day in the desert (they want to use them for CO2 drawdown), but from what figures I could find, there are some cyanobacteria that basically produce oxygen in proportion to the light you give them - right down to 1/100th of "noon in the desert" light.

With that in mind, I think there are existing cyanobacteria that would generate 20 mmol of O2 per square meter per hour ( seasonal average Martian light levels, averaged over the Martian day, peaking at 80 mmol O2 m-2 h-1 ). If you can cover 10% of the Martian surface with them, it will take 100 years to generate 2 mbar of O2.

So, optimistically, if you can find/engineer a cyanobacteria that has a production rate double that, and you could seed 20% of the Martian surface (needs to be watery & ice free), then you'd have 2 mbar of O2 in 25 years.

Midoshi · 2007-07-31 00:10:55

Thanks for the compliments, nickname and noosfractal!

I am working on the UV problem right now...from some preliminary models it looks like an early 100 mbar CO2 with only slightly enhanced oxygen levels would produce a significant ozone layer. I can't say much quantitative at the moment since I'm still working on the model, but I'll post data if/when anything comes of it.

How much O2 does sphagnum moss need again?

Since this is such an important question I decided to go and calculate an absolute minimum based on what we know of submerged sphagnum in a peat bog. I found a book online titled Characteristics of the low-elevation Sphagnum-dominated peatlands of western Washington, which in Chapter 3 gives a minimum measured dissolved oxygen level of 0.03 mg/L in the acrotelm, the top layer of bog that contains a mixture of living and dead moss. Beneath this (at ~2 ft in the bog examined) lies the catotelm were there is virtually no oxygen and only slowly decaying shagnum exists.

Since oxygen solubility is inversely dependant on temperature, we also need to know the minimum summer temperature that moss needs. In Graham's "Planetary Ecosynthesis As Ecological Succession" he gives a minimum mild-polar summer high of 7°C for bryophytes. Thus, we want to know the partial pressure of O2 in Mars' atmosphere required to dissolve 0.03 mg/L of O2 in water @ 7°C. Using Henry's Law we come up with a value of ~0.5 mbar. This is a bit over 60 times the current level of ~0.008 mbar.

How long would it take to come up with this much O2? It depends...you're going to get some O2 from physical and chemical reactions that happen when you warm and dampen the planet, and it's conceivable that 0.5 mbar could be released...but nobody knows exactly how much we'll get. Worst case scenario is you assume you have to make it all with algae or cynobacteria.

nickname · 2007-07-31 05:26:02

RobertDyck,

Cyanobacteria and sphagnum moss work well together.
Probably no need to work out the Oxygen content needs for Sphagnum in water with Cyanobacteria growing.

I agree we can help push the atmosphere in the right direction mining for all sorts of things.

Since the goal of us humans walking out on the land and smelling the roses will probably never happen, our goal should just be just roses.

To have any hope of teraforming the land we need to know what will grow with high concentrations of atmospheric c02, poor concentrations of oxygen and little free nitrogen.
Some of the other nasties like 1/3 G, extra UV and additional background radiations we will have to make educated guesses about.

If nothing will grow on land under those conditions we need to do one of 2 things.

1. Terraform the water only.
2. Import nitrogen or another inert gas in quantities at least the quantity the initial atmosphere just to control c02 and 02 levels.

My thought is that option 1 is so simple VS option 2 that we should seriously consider making mars a shallow water world, or as much of it as we can.

As a water world we would have a very long time before we had to worry about 02 levels getting dangerous, more than enough time for the import of other inert gasses.

As for the smelling of rosses, we can do that in greenhouses on the land we choose to keep.
Then I'm sure some rose company will be selling them in mall Mars, probably next to the candy store.

RobertDyck · 2007-08-05 20:43:35

I found a website about growing a sphagnum bog in your back yard. It's interesting to note they recommend gowing in sand with clean water, either rain, distilled or reverse-osmosis filtered water. It thrives in an environment with no organic matter what so ever. In fact, the lack of organic matter starves other plants, eliminating competition. The only tricky thing is maintaining the right water level, and keeping humidity in the microclimate of the sphagnum itself consistent. That means we can grow it in the sterile regolith on Mars.
http://www.orchidmall.com/general/sphagbog.htm

The paper about sphagnum acidity is "THE ROLE OF SPHAGNUM IN THE ACID-BASE CHEMISTRY OF BOG WATERS" at Marine Biological Laboratory.
http://courses.mbl.edu/SES/data/project … xander.pdf

Because of unique cation exchange properties generated by Spahgnum plants, they have been studied as important sources of acidity in Sphagnum-dominated bogs. Sphagnum growth results in the continuous formation of cation exchange sites at the plant apex (Clymo, 1967). Most (if not all) uronic acids at these sites are manufactured in a free acid form: -COOH. When precipitation or groundwater flows over the plants, the hydrogens (H+) on the carboxyl groups are then exchanged for cations in the water. This displaces the H+ into solution, lowering the pH of surrounding waters (Gorham and Cragg, 1960). Clymo found that growth rates of Sphagnum are adequate to maintain a typical bog at pH 4, entirely by ion exchange mechanisms (Clymo, 1964).
Ion exchange by Sphagnum is just one of the various factors that may control bog acidity. Other studies have attributed possible sources of acidity to CO2 build-up, oxidation of reduced N and S, assimilatory cation uptake, production of organic acids during decomposition, and acid deposition (Urban, 1987). Potential sinks include decompositional release of cations, alkalinity inputs, assimilatory anion uptake, dissimilitory anion reduction, and weathering reactions (Urban, 1987). The contribution to total bog acidity by each of these mechanisms varies among specific environments, and the relative importance of each has been argued over past decades.

So a strong CO2 atmosphere and sulphur in the regolith will add to acidity, keeping it well below 4.0. Remember sphagnum grows between pH 3.0 and 4.5, stronger acid decomposes rock flower more quickly; I said the goal was 3.0 to 3.5.

Neutralizing acid can be done with lime. I saw at garden centre of a store today a bag of "dolomitic lime". Quicklime is calcium oxide (CaO), slaked lime is hydrated lime or the mineral calcite (Ca(OH)2). "Dolomitic lime" is dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2). Agricultural lime can be dolomite, calcite, or a mixture depending on need. Pure calcite is harsh lime; dolomite is "buffered". Mars has both in its surface soil. Remember these two minerals compressed into stone are called limestone. In fact, it may be prudent to find a patch of concentrated lime in the soil, set it aside before starting the bog. Use the lime to neutralize bog acid when finished.

SpaceNut · 2007-08-06 20:31:02

This thread has been excellent to all those that have been contributing to its conversation, thank you.

On the note of the make up of the soil just a quick question... Is there any toxic heavy metals that would make it into the plant growth process that would be present in this newly created soil?

Would a first crop be enough to remove most if not all trace of them?

RickSmith · 2007-08-07 15:52:37

So a strong CO2 atmosphere and sulfur in the regolith will add to acidity, keeping it well below 4.0. Remember sphagnum grows between pH 3.0 and 4.5, stronger acid decomposes rock flower more quickly; I said the goal was 3.0 to 3.5.

I don't think we need to panic about the peat moss (to be used as soil expander) being acidic. The plants are pushing H+ ions into solution, a good number of them will be left behind in the water when we pull the moss out and dry it. When we mix the moss with regolith the hydrogen protons will react with clays and the minerals of the regolith and speed getting minerals out of the rock into forms plants can use. Also note that there are many species of plants that will grow in some what acidic soil. (Rhododendrons for example.)

Someone who knows more about botany than I might suggest some useful Mars plants that prefer moderately acidic soil.

Anyway, my point is that acids are not like some bacteria that grow and spread. If the soil is somewhat acidic, the protons will react and the soil will become less acidic unless the plants keep pumping protons into it some how. (Fir trees drop needles which make the soil around them more acidic in part to cut down on competition.)

Warm regards, Rick.

RobertDyck · 2007-08-07 22:11:00

Quoting from the Boreal Forest Research Centre:
Slightly acid soil: pH 6.1-6.5
No direct effect on liming on most crops.
Fields with an average pH just above 6.0 may have areas where the pH is below 6.0. Alfalfa and sweet-clover yields will be increased on the more acid areas.

Moderately acid soil: ph 6.5-5.5
Improved survival and growth of rhizobium bacteria, which fix nitrogen in association with alfalfa and sweet clover. Yields of alfalfa and sweet clover increase.
Small increases in yield of barley occur in the first two or three years following lime applications with larger increases (25-30 %) occurring in subsequent years. Yields of wheat and canola will be increased less than barley.

Strongly acid soil: pH 5.1-5.5
Increased nitrogen fixation and yield of legumes. Soluble aluminium and manganese are reduced to non-toxic levels.

Very strongly acid soil: pH <5.1
Direct effects as outlined above for strongly acid soils.
Yields of most crops are severely reduced unless the soil is lime. Very strongly acid soils are very infertile. Acid tolerant crops (oats and some grasses) moderately well if adequately fertilized.

The bog I'm talking about is pH 3.0 to 3.5, this is beyond very strongly acid; it can only be called extremely acid. Black spruce trees tollerate acid soil, but even they only live in soil pH 7.0 (neutral) to 4.0. There is an overlap, pet will grow between 3.0 and 4.5 so a pH between 4.0 and 4.5 will permit both pete and black spruce to co-exist. However, below 3.5 even black spruce won't live. Blueberries love acid soil, but their pH range is either 4.0-5.0, or 4.5-5.5, or 4.5-5.1 depending on which reference you read. Another reference states wild lowbush blueberries will grow in pH 3.9-5.3. However, all that is well above the 3.0-3.5 range I cited as optimal to convert rock flower quickly to clay.

The reason for adding lime is to increase soil pH to the strongly acid range. Removing peat moss to act as soil conditioner somewhere else isn't a problem, the need for lime is to convert the bog itself into arable soil.

SpaceNut · 2016-12-29 10:06:07

Repost:

Lake Matthew Team - Cole wrote:

RobertDyck wrote:
Sprit, Opportunity, and Curiosity have found a total of 1 meteorite sitting on the surface of Mars. They didn't see it fall, it was already there. That doesn't sound like a shooting gallery to me.
? Oh, they found more than that.
Besides, it's not easy to find a cm iron meteorite in a pebble field. Just looking at the photos, how can we tell which pebble is a bullet in disguise?
http://redplanet.asu.edu/wp-content/upl … gure_2.gif
But surely I'm OT at this point. Can we talk about greenhouse cheese, chard and calcium again? I'd like to integrate NMF improvements into our notional LMT greenhouse; and scale it not merely for self-sufficiency, but even for a stockpile of excess production. Stockpiling allows us to consider "local food provisioning", or delivery, to all expeditions planet-wide.
https://www.valpak.com/img/print/Rocket … n_Utah.png

The images remind me of sedimentary rock layering

http://geology.com/rocks/sedimentary-rocks.shtml
http://geology.com/rocks/breccia.shtml
http://geology.com/rocks/conglomerate.shtml

Mars Conglomerate
http://geology.com/stories/13/rocks-on-mars/

All this reminded me that if we do soil greenhouses that we will need to enrich the soil.

MarsMouse · 2018-02-10 15:05:19

Re: Building the Soil.

After the soil is prepared.

The Importance of Bees and the Selection of Low Maintenance Crops vs High Maintenance.

I'm new to this forum and I am not a scientist. However, I have a brother n law who is in fact a Rocket Scientist / Flight Director at JPL/Nasa. His involvement with the Exploration of Mars has boosted my already long existing fascination with the Red Planet. Please forgive my lack of knowledge but as Elon Musk with Space X and Steve Jobs with Apple have shown. A mind is still a mind. And an overactive imagination can be a great resource in any process of " getting the job done."

I haven't noticed too many articles or the mentioning of Bees on Mars. From my distant but quite intensive experience on a farm in my youth I remember being told that "crops won't grow without the bees." And so, I would imagine that any endeavor to grow crops on Mars would have to include one of Earth's most successful horticulturist. Unless done so artificially, why not use Bees? If it's possible to successfully transport them to the Red Planet?

Farms are one thing. Gardens are another. You don't need a farm to feed a family or even several families. Farms are for income. Gardens are for nourishment. That being said, I member my late Grandmother's tiny garden that she always maintained next to her home. The entire garden was little more than a 12 by 12 foot square plot of earth. She would till the soil with either chicken or horse manure.

The garden's compact size made it easy to maintain. But the vegetables and plants within the garden were ( in her words) " low maintenance."

For instance: Pole Butter Beans ( high in protein and very delicious) are usually about 6 ft tall and 2 ft in diameter. And one plant could easily produce more than enough beans to feed a grown adult three meals a day. And as long as the temperature is above frost and as long as you continue picking the beans they will produce, indefinitely. Yes, I said indefinitely. She had an average of 4 to 6 Poles of of Butter Beans. And after freezing or freeze drying more beans than she could store, most were given away to her neighbors. That's just the butter beans. Then there were tomato plants, squash, Pole Green Beans ( they too produced the same amount and continued indefinitely as with the Butter Beans) Okra, etc.

These plants were low maintenance /high yield. While things like potatoes, corn, wheat and other grains required too much space, too much labor with too little yield to qualify making it on my Grandmother's list. Thus, high maintenance.

Summary: (After the small plot of Martian soil has been prepared)

In my humble opinion. Bees are a must (unless artificial pollination is utilized).

And, to grow crops on Mars would be best served by following the advice of someone whom, if given a relatively small amount of soil, fertilizer, water and seeds in a 12 by 12 Greenhouse could feed a 16 man crew of Martians,.......indefinitely. With the exception of fertilizer replacement. Perhaps Miracle Grow, Rabbit feces, etc?

Thanks for allowing me to post.

Last edited by MarsMouse (2018-02-10 15:09:02)

SpaceNut · 2018-02-10 18:23:48

Welcome to NewMars Marsmouse....

They do not like altitude or cold.....What gravity experiments have we done with pollenating Bees?

Void · 2018-02-10 21:33:34

Hi Marsmouse. When you are done working with Spacenut here, please consider moving to:
"Index
» Life support systems
» Living inside Mountains / Caves on Mars?"

We think we have a greenhouse to use on Mars. You sound very much like someone who could give good advice on what plants can work in it, and if bees could live in it. The greenhouses temperature might drop to 3.88888889 degC at night, but it should be possible to get it warm during the day.

So, maybe some of the high productive plants you have mentioned might work in that environment.

Last edited by Void (2018-02-10 21:36:45)

RobertDyck · 2018-02-10 22:57:40

Response in Life support systems » Crops

Oldfart1939 · 2018-02-10 23:55:59

In Robert's referenced thread, see posts # 405, 415, 419, 425, and several others interspersed in between these. These address the "bee problem" in some detail. The nice by-product of bee pollination is honey!

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2018-02-11 00:03:02)

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-08-26 06:29:47

Maybe set up a Chemical Production Facility for NPK? Your Robot AI machine on Mars will first take care of the Worms, Bees, Decaying Matter, Insects before your human arrives, a land and soil prepared with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium?
Also be careful of the crazed religion type banging his head on the floor of that mosque, it could be a terrible culture to allow into space, rotate your farm, even Earth had its Dust storms, the islamo guys going to the mosques five times per day allowed their goats to eat everything hanging gardens became dusty wastelands of Arabia, on Earth there were dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies, perhaps don't over use a field set a few aside to allow soil to recover and avoid Dust Bowl, 75% of soil was Lost becoming the Sands and dust of the 1930s, John Steinbeck would later write The Grapes of Wrath, will Mars have similar books, or will they be banned for offense speeches Profanity, Sex, Republican Conservative and Communism or other Taboo wrong think subjects?

Grow For It! Using fertilizers in the garden
https://www.mtdemocrat.com/prospecting/ … he-garden/

Compost to computer: Bio-based materials used to salvage rare earth elements
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-compost-b … -rare.html

MASTER GARDENER: Plants need 3 primary nutrients to thrive
https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/lifestyl … -to-thrive

‘Mouldy is better!’: Use stale bread to ‘revitalise’ your plants - how to use
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/ga … -exclusive

Four ways to minimise water usage in the garden - water plants from ‘below’ to avoid waste
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/ga … e-ban-tips

Continuously applying compost for three years alleviated soil acidity and heavy metal bioavailability in a soil-asparagus lettuce system
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10 … 72789/full

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-08-26 06:36:59)

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-09-22 14:04:16

Alfalfa May Be the Key to Unlocking Gardens on Mars. Slow your potato roll, Matt Damon
https://www.treehugger.com/alfalfa-unlo … rs-6503971

China releases first batch of research from Mars exploration
https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2209180564/
Chinese scientists have also found hydrated minerals in platy-like rocks, a layer of "duricrust," proving that there has been substantial liquid water activity at the landing area since the Amazonian epoch, which was about 1 billion years ago.

The secret to farming on Mars? A bit of alfalfa
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/09/2 … of-alfalfa

Planting an Ecosystem on Mars
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/planting-a … em-on-mars

Researchers find potential ‘first plant’ that could be grown on Mars
https://www.independent.co.uk/space/mar … 49910.html
Findings suggest it is possible to treat soil and water on Mars for farming

Alfalfa plants, an important forage crop grown in many parts of the world, can survive in tough volcanic soil like the one covering Mars and could be used as fertiliser to grow food like turnips and radishes on the Red Planet, according to a new study.

SpaceNut · 2022-09-22 20:57:01

One of the best ways to break down the mars soils to build up organic matter is to let nature take its course by planting areas not for food but to allow it to be turned under the top so as to get the process started for what we would want to really grow.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2023-02-23 09:22:20

The Moon

Ingenious Technique Could Make Moon Farming Possible
https://news.yahoo.com/ingenious-techni … 00592.html
Lunar astronauts might have to get their overalls ready, because the Moon could be the next great frontier for agriculture. The European Space Agency and Norwegian lunar agriculture company Solsys Mining have teamed up on a project to study how lunar soil could be used to produce fertilizer.

Void · 2023-02-23 17:21:20

I was very surprised to see that lunar soil does indeed contain Nitrogen compounds. I suppose maybe from dust and comets.

Done.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2023-03-06 09:58:13

Learning to grow food on Mars could transform food production on Earth
https://astronomy.com/news/2023/02/growing-food-on-mars

Stump Farms is Hendersonville's only farm that specializes in hydroponics
https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/busi … 958644007/

The complex effect of organic acids on the dissolution of feldspar at high temperature
https://link.springer.com/article/10.10 … 21-09537-2

To understand the effect of organic acid on the solubility of feldspar under high temperature conditions, feldspar dissolution experiments in oxalic acid and in acetic acid were conducted at 130 °C. And the Gaussian simulation software was used to calculate the binding energy of the complex reaction from the perspective of quantum chemistry to analyze the relationship between the binding energy and the corrosion amount. The results showed that the dissolution of feldspar in oxalic acid was obviously more intense than that in acetic acid at the same temperature.

Soil-arium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro-a6LrQOco

How to Make Organic N-P-K Fertilizer Mixes at Home and Save Money
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro-a6LrQOco

How to Grow Your Own Worms
https://www.thespruce.com/grow-your-own … ms-1762239

There is an extensive section on worm composting, which walks you through the concept of cultivating and keeping a worm bin.
Farmers turn to space as the next frontier for agriculture
https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/27/farmers-tu … riculture/

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2023-03-06 10:04:11)

Mars_B4_Moon · 2023-09-18 08:38:22

Best Nitrogen Fertilizer For Lawns of 2023: Top 4 Picks
https://www.averagepersongardening.com/ … termelons/

Bugs in Compost: The Good and the Bad
https://greencitizen.com/blog/bugs-in-compost/

From the roly-poly pill bugs to the tireless red worms, these critters play a pivotal role in turning your kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost

While many bugs are beneficial for your compost pile, some are less desirable, disrupting the composting process or posing risks to your garden.

From Sea to Soil: How Seaweed Fertiliser is Revolutionizing Commercial Farming
https://www.webgardner.com/organic-fert … l-farming/

Use of algae to support sustainable fertilizer production
https://phys.org/news/2023-02-algae-sus … ction.html

NASA Plant Researchers Explore Question of Deep-Space Food Crops
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-plant … food-crops

What kind of crops could be grown in space or on another planet? Potatoes, sweet potatoes, wheat and soybeans would all be good according to Wheeler because they provide a lot of carbohydrates, and soybeans are a good source of protein.
Also, potatoes are tubers, which means they store their edible biomass in underground structures. Wheeler said potatoes could produce twice the amount of food as some seed crops when given equivalent light. After salad crops that are now being studied, they are the next category of minimally processed food crops and could be consumed raw.
"You could begin to grow potatoes, wheat and soybeans, things like that, and along with the salad crops, you could provide more of a complete diet," Wheeler said.

Can Plants Grow with Mars Soil?
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/can-plants … -mars-soil
In “The Martian,” Mark Watney uses the Martian soil to grow potatoes in the controlled environment of the “Hab.” In reality, the soil on Mars actually does have the nutrients plants would need to survive on Mars! There may not be the right amount of nutrients depending on where astronauts land on the Red Planet, so fertilizers may need to be added to the soil. The perchlorates in the soil would be leached out and separated from the water.

NASA’s Mission to Mars Could Be Fueled by Fish
https://observer.com/2021/02/nasas-miss … -in-space/
Fish can be taken into space as fertilized eggs and then grown to full size on board

How to make a worm farm
https://www.organicgardener.com.au/blog … -worm-farm

The wrong worm?

Why be concerned about jumping worms?
https://extension.umn.edu/identify-inva … ping-worms
Jumping worms (Amynthas spp.) are an invasive species native to eastern Asia. In fact, no earthworms are native to Minnesota.
Jumping worms contribute to major forest ecosystem disturbance and are also troublesome for homeowners and gardeners. They negatively impact soil structure and reduce plant growth.

Sow Bugs – aka Woodlice
https://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm- … -woodlice/

Like most of the other creatures in a composting system, these invertebrates should not be viewed with disdain. Not only do they not harm the worms in any way whatsoever, but they actually perform a very beneficial role as ‘shredders’, basically breaking up large fragments of organic matter, thus making them more accessible to microbes for further decomposition. Generally, they prefer a somewhat damp, dark environmental – but not the really moist conditions your worms love. If you notice that the number of sow bugs in your system seems to be increasing, it may be an indication that you are not keeping the moisture content high enough.

Can woodlice cause a problem in my worm bin?
https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/blogs/ … y-worm-bin

Nope. Woodlice are primary composters so eat organic waste and produce compost! So they can live happily alongside your worm population. They could also be a sign that your wormery is too dry - but this isn't always the case.

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2023-09-18 08:46:22)

SpaceNut · 2023-09-18 20:35:16

Starting from scratch with only what we take with us is going to be the problem as we will be fearful of earths organisms going amuck....

Mars_B4_Moon · 2024-04-06 00:46:55

Humans to Mars: What’s the holdup? — part 1
https://interestingengineering.com/news … asa-spacex

the Chinese did export soil to the Moon, Chang'e 4 Moon lander, cottonseed,, yeast and fruit fly eggs, rapeseed and some type of China flowering plant

2023 article

Clean Up Soil With Plants – Using Plants For Contaminated Soil
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden … d-soil.htm

Scientists demonstrate that some tropical plants have potential to remove toxic heavy metals from the soil
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 … 104203.htm

Farming on Mars will be a lot harder than ‘The Martian’ made it seem
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/mar … olith-soil
Growing plants in Red Planet soil will require adding nutrients and removing toxic chemicals

2020 article

Soil on Earth is full of microbes and other organic matter that helps plants grow, but Mars dirt is basically crushed rock. The new result “tells you that if you want to grow plants on Mars using soil, you’re going to have to put in a lot of work to transform that material into something that plants can grow in,” Cannon says.
Biochemist Andrew Palmer and colleagues at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne planted lettuce and A. thaliana seeds in imitation Mars dirt under controlled lighting and temperature indoors, just as astronauts would on Mars. The plants were cultivated at 22° Celsius and about 70 percent humidity.
Seeds of both species germinated and grew in dirt mined from Hawaii or the Mojave Desert, as long as the plants were fertilized with a cocktail of nitrogen, potassium, calcium and other nutrients. No seeds of either species could germinate in the synthetic dirt, so “we would grow up plants under hydroponic-like conditions, and then we would transfer them” to the artificial dirt, Palmer says. But even when given fertilizer, those seedlings died within a week of transplanting.

comparisons to Mars

Elevational is the main factor controlling the soil microbial community structure in alpine tundra of the Changbai Mountain
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69441-w

Tundra Biome
https://geo.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/ … ndra_Biome

We find the arctic tundra biome at high latitudes closely associated with the tundra climate. Notable areas of arctic tundra are found along the arctic coastal North America, Europe, Asia and Greenland. Short grasses, flowers, and grass-like sedges, along with covers of mosses and lichens are the dominate forms of vegetation in the tundra. Seasonal frost heave disrupts root systems preventing support for tall vegetation. The arctic tundra looks like a treeless plain, interrupted by patterned ground and an occasional tree in selected microenvironments.

Hot desert soils—Global distribution and unique characteristics
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a … 9420300791

AGROMARS, Space Mission Concept Study to Explore Martian Soil and Atmosphere to Search for Possibility of Agriculture on Mars

https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024L … D/abstract

This mission aims to explore the martian soil and atmosphere to search for possibility to exploit agriculture on Mars with the use of a rover able to collect and analyse soil samples and transmit the data to agricultural laboratories.

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2024-04-06 01:02:22)

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