Future farms on Mars could receive a boost from intercropping

With aspirations of establishing human outposts on Mars, NASA is collaborating with astrobiologists to identify optimal crops for this extraterrestrial agriculture. To maximize yields in these unique conditions, researchers are exploring innovative planting techniques. A recent study published in PLOS One delves into the potential of intercropping, an age-old practice of growing multiple crops in close proximity, to boost harvests on the Red Planet.

Simulating the Martian Landscape

For long-term human habitation on Mars, a steady supply of nutritious food is paramount. While the resourceful methods employed by fictional astronaut Mark Watney in “The Martian” are intriguing, real-life Martian colonists will require more practical solutions. Scientists are replicating the Martian environment on Earth to develop these solutions. Mars boasts an atmosphere 100 times thinner than Earth’s, primarily composed of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. Future Martian colonies will likely reside in pressurized greenhouses mimicking Earth’s atmosphere, with the right mix of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.