Soil on planet Mard may have the necessary nutrients for growing rice, according to a report presented by a team of researchers at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
The team succeeded in growing rice plants using Mojave Desert basalt to simulate Martian soil but the plants developed slighter shoots and wispier roots.
Another hindrance to rice cultivation on Mars is the presence of perchlorate, a chemical that can be toxic to plants, detected on Mars’ surface.
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Developing tougher rice
IRRI is developing rice varieties that can withstand conditions forecast to become more frequent and intense with climate change. This includes drought, flood, heat, cold, and soil problems like high salt and iron toxicity.
