Kalkaska sand is Michigan’s state soil and is a valuable asset for agriculture, forestry, and for filtering water. But people who will live on Mars will not have it so good. Martian soil contains heavy metals that are dangerous to humans, but scientists of Wageningen University & Research have grown crops in the toxic soil that are safe to eat. Preliminary analysis of radish, pea, rye and tomato plants demonstrated that the plants contained concentrations of heavy metals that were lower than crops grown in potting soil, according to a June 24, 2016, press release.
Lead, cadmium, arsenic and copper are heavy metals present in the soil and can be taken up in the parts of the plants that may be eaten, making them inedible for humans. However, it is unknown whether the take-up of heavy metals will be the same in Mar’s lower gravity as they are on Earth.
If they get funding, they will test ten crops including potatoes, carrots, garden cress and green beans. Once the plants are tested for safety, with the heavy metal content below critical levels, they will organize a meal for the sponsors of the research.
They will test not only for heavy metals, but for vitamins, tasteful flavonoids, and poisonous alkaloids. This research is important for establishing a long-term human presence on Mars.
