Growing plants in the soil of other planets - is it possible?

Asparagus grown on meteorite soil.

It looks like yes. Recently, a scientist trying to grow different plants on different soils of extraterrestrial origin, published the preliminary results of his work.

And the results are encouraging: bacteria, microscopic fungi, and even asparagus with potatoes can grow on extraterrestrial soil. In general, this is not surprising, since the material of most asteroids and meteorites contains phosphates, nitrates and, sometimes, even water.
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Therefore, the scientist (Michael Matner from the University of Virginia Commonwealth), conducting the experiments described above, believes that on other planets you can easily grow plants, of course, in protected domes / underground.


Microscopic algae and bacteria on meteorite soil.

Preparation for disembarkation is also necessary. For example, a scientist crushed meteorites to a more or less fine fraction of material, in order to get the ground. On other planets, this may not be necessary, since on the same Mars, for example, there is a lot of sand / dust.

On other planets, however, it is necessary to take into account the gravity / radiation background, which is unusual for terrestrial organisms. But such studies are already being conducted by NASA. For example, in 2015 they plan to send live plants to the Moon , in a protected container, and see how they feel there.



The same experiment is planned to be carried out on Mars , but already in 2021.



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