Such an idea of a vegetated Mars has been so alluring to scientists and space travelers. due to its promising potential for changing the Red Planet into a habitable place for human beings. The vegetation on this planet will be realized through some unique environmental conditions on the planet, its technological development, and how this challenge will be met.
Plants face high difficulty on Mars due to its thin atmosphere, mostly composed of carbon dioxide—approximately 95% of it—with very little oxygen present. This thinness also puts the surface under high fluxes of solar and cosmic radiation that are potentially harmful to plants. Further, the average temperature at the surface is about -80 degrees Fahrenheit (-62 degrees Celsius), with big changes that could freeze or desiccate plants.
Even with these complications, some methods can be applied to raise vegetation on Mars. The first is controlled environments in a greenhouse or biodome, where the environment would be designed for the needs of the plants. They would, thus, be capable of generating heat and protection from radiation, as well as maintaining an atmosphere with a high concentration of carbon dioxide to enhance photosynthesis.
Another possibility is the use of Martian regolith as a growing medium. Although Martian soil lacks essential nutrients and harbors a number of compounds that are toxic to plant growth, it can be treated and supplemented with added nutrients to make it apt for the growth of plants. Experiments on Earth with simulated Martian soil have already shown that some robust plant species, for example, potatoes or certain legumes, can be grown in such soil.
There is also a lot of potential for genetically modified organisms. Plants could be genetically engineered to better resist the Mars environment, hence providing enhanced resistance to cold, drought, and radiation. These plants can be made to be resistant to or thrive in lower atmospheric pressures and higher carbon dioxide concentrations than Earth’s, therefore being more robust under Martian conditions. Second, the extremophilic cyanobacteria or algae that could inhabit extremities can be introduced to help generate oxygen and enrich the soil to lay a base for further complex flora.
Vegetation grown on Mars would then be able to supply food and oxygen for visiting humans in the future and could also play its part in terraforming the planet. Over time, this might raise the atmospheric level of oxygen by introducing photosynthetic organisms and possibly even raise planetary temperatures due to enhanced heat retention. While making Mars an Earth-like planet is a herculean effort, by merely growing vegetation on Mars, one travels some distance toward habituating the planet for humans. Further research and innovation mean that a green Mars may one day become a reality.
Arnold