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Effects of Pisum sativum and Rhizobia Bacteria on the Ammonium Concentration in Martian Regolith Simulant

CSEF · 2016 Plant Biology

Alexander J. Ditto · Thousand Oaks High School, Thousand Oaks, Ventura County

Overview

Objectives/Goals To determine if nitrogen fixation can occur in simulated Martian regolith and if so, to quantify the ammonium added to the soil through this process. Methods/Materials Planted Pisum sativum with Rhizobia bacteria in simulated Martian regolith. After plants had grown, soil was analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography to detect and quantify ammonium in soil samples. Results Results from HPLC analysis showed a presence of ammonium in soil samples based on chromatograms from standard ammonium samples and soil samples. Physical evidence of nitrogen fixation was observed in the form of the formation of root nodules on the test plants. Conclusions/Discussion Nitrogen fixation using Pisum sativum and Rhizobia bacteria can occur in simulated Martian regolith. This process increased the ammonium concentration in the soil, making it more fertile for future generations of plants. Nitrogen fixation may provide a way to help fertilize soil on Mars and make it farmable for future settlements.

Summary statement

I planted organisms cabable of nitrogen fixation in Martain regolith simulant in order to increase the ammonium concentration of the soil to show that farming on Mars may be possible in the near future.

Help received

Dr. Greg Cauchon helped me learn the process and methods of High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Competition history

  • CSEF 2016 Plant Biology · Entry S1805

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