https://sputniknews.in/20251130/russian-scientists-grow-barley-in-mars-like-soil-using-microorganisms-10136401.html
Russian Scientists Grow Barley in Mars-Like Soil Using Microorganisms
Russian Scientists Grow Barley in Mars-Like Soil Using Microorganisms
Sputnik India
Researchers at Southern Federal University (SFedU) have successfully grown the first barley sprouts in soil that mimics the surface of Mars. The university... 30.11.2025, Sputnik India
2025-11-30T11:44+0530
2025-11-30T11:44+0530
2025-11-30T11:44+0530
science & tech
science & tech
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According to the researchers, the mixture contained ten types of bacteria and yeast that support each other’s survival and collectively create a nutrient-rich environment. For plants to grow, soil must contain ample decomposed organic matter—an intricate blend of materials from which plants draw essential nutrients.Evgeniya Prazdnova, head of the Molecular Genetics of Microbial Consortia Youth Laboratory at SFedU, noted that increasing microbial concentration in soil—known as bioremediation—is one of the most effective ways to restore land damaged by fire, pollution, or other disturbances. Researchers applied the same approach to their model Martian soil, created using sand from the Mojave Desert.The team succeeded in growing barley with the help of cyanobacteria, which absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, as well as actinomycetes and bacilli that contribute to biomass formation. Additional microorganisms helped strengthen the soil, making it more resilient to stress and suitable for crop growth.While growing plants without traditional soil—such as through hydroponics—is not new, Prazdnova emphasized that cultivating crops outside controlled laboratory environments remains a major challenge. Harsh northern climates, heavily polluted areas, and future extraterrestrial habitats all present significant obstacles.“We now need to determine how the bacteria and yeast changed during the mission, and whether they can retain their soil-enriching capabilities when transported to another planet,” she added.This research was conducted under the Soil Bioengineering Technologies strategic project, part of the National Youth and Children Scheme and supported by the Priority-2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program.The SFedU team explained that this decomposed matter is produced through microbial activity, which “colonizes” lifeless ground and gradually transforms it into fertile soil.Martian soil, however, is an extremely harsh, nutrient-depleted form of barren terrain. While rich in metallic salts, these mineral components hinder plant growth and make agriculture nearly impossible without intervention.
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science & tech, mars, russia
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Russian Scientists Grow Barley in Mars-Like Soil Using Microorganisms
Researchers at Southern Federal University (SFedU) have successfully grown the first barley sprouts in soil that mimics the surface of Mars. The university told Sputnik that the breakthrough was achieved by enriching the barren soil with a special mixture of microorganisms.
According to the researchers, the mixture contained ten types of bacteria and yeast that support each other’s survival and collectively create a nutrient-rich environment. For plants to grow, soil must contain ample decomposed organic matter—an intricate blend of materials from which plants draw essential nutrients.
Evgeniya Prazdnova, head of the Molecular Genetics of Microbial Consortia Youth Laboratory at SFedU, noted that increasing microbial concentration in soil—known as bioremediation—is one of the most effective ways to restore land damaged by fire, pollution, or other disturbances. Researchers applied the same approach to their model Martian soil, created using sand from the Mojave Desert.
The team succeeded in growing barley with the help of cyanobacteria, which absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, as well as actinomycetes and bacilli that contribute to biomass formation. Additional microorganisms helped strengthen the soil, making it more resilient to stress and suitable for crop growth.
While growing plants without traditional soil—such as through hydroponics—is not new, Prazdnova emphasized that cultivating crops outside controlled laboratory environments remains a major challenge. Harsh northern climates, heavily polluted areas, and future extraterrestrial habitats all present significant obstacles.
“In collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Biomedical Problems (IMBP), the same group of ten microorganisms was sent into space aboard the Bion-M No. 2 spacecraft, which successfully returned to Earth on October 18,” Prazdnova said.
“We now need to determine how the bacteria and yeast changed during the mission, and whether they can retain their soil-enriching capabilities when transported to another planet,” she added.
This research was conducted under the Soil Bioengineering Technologies strategic project, part of the National Youth and Children Scheme and supported by the Priority-2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program.
The SFedU team explained that this decomposed matter is produced through microbial activity, which “colonizes” lifeless ground and gradually transforms it into fertile soil.
Martian soil, however, is an extremely harsh, nutrient-depleted form of barren terrain. While rich in metallic salts, these mineral components hinder plant growth and make agriculture nearly impossible without intervention.
