54
CAN PLANTS
GROW ON MARS?
Humans may one day garden on Mars. The soil has
the nutrients needed by plants, with toxins that could
be removed. However, Mars has no liquid water, so
this would need to be produced for the plants. The plants
would also need protecting from harmful conditions.
Sort-of soil
Martian soil is very similar
to moon dust. Neither
contains living things to
create spaces, which make
soil suitable for plants.
Martian rocks
Long ago it rained on Mars. The
water froze in cracks on the rocky
surface. The ice expanded and broke
off tiny fragments of rock. These are
still part of the soil today.
The rover will
drill down to look
for microorganisms
in the soil.
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054-055_Soil_of_mars.indd 54 31/10/2019 14:05