Plants will grow without organic matter in the soil. The organic matter is
useful for conserving water in the soil, providing minerals via the action
of soil bacteria in breaking down the organic matter into minerals useable
by the plants, and insulating the soil against large changes in temperature,
but it's not necessary. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are the
highest-volume minerals consumed by the plants during photosynthesis, but
other minerals are also necessary. The exact array of minerals and the
quantities needed depend on the species of plant and to some extent on the
weather the plant encounters. All plants need water, although some can get
by with very little. Potatoes need a moderate amount of water. Plants also
need carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and oxygen during dark periods and
also, I believe, during certain light periods, such as during very hot
weather when the plant closes its stomata (the pores on the undersides of
the leaves, where gas exchange takes place) and ceases photosynthetic
activity.
Bonnie
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-extropians@extropy.com
[mailto:owner-extropians@extropy.com]On Behalf Of zeb haradon
Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2000 7:36 PM
To: extropians@extropy.com
Subject: Growing plants in space
I came across the following link:
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=1791
It is about a student project to grow potatoes in (simulated) Martian soil.
Is this possible? This is very startling to me. I was under the impression
that you need some sort of organic material in the soil to grow any kind of
plant, and surely they will need to at least add water.
What exactly are the soil requirements for growing various types of plants?
Could you grow food plants in the dust which coats the moon? If so, this
drastically simplifies my lunar colonization plans.
---------------------------------------------------
Zeb Haradon (zebharadon@hotmail.com)
My personal webpage:
http://www.inconnect.com/~zharadon/ubunix
A movie I'm directing:
http://www.elevatormovie.com
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