EMMANUEL MENDOZA: Howdy. My name is Emmanuel Mendoza. I'm a junior aerospace engineering major, minoring in mathematics and agricultural systems management at Texas A&M University. To make sure that your Soil Supreme is performing well, simply water regularly and make sure that you have sufficient drainage so that it doesn’t become too saturated in water. It’s never been easier to grow strong, healthy, and robust plants. MENDOZA: It doesn't have organic matter, and it's also missing some certain macronutrients that contain nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. They make a full range of both mineral and organic origin, with a range of matching boosters and additives to boot. Not just for Soil Sown seeds need plenty of moisture. The water content of the seed needs to be about 70% for a chemical process to start.

The first key factor is age. Seedlings need moisture and humidity. Their root systems are too small to draw up enough water if their leaves lose too much to the atmosphere. However, too much water/humidity can lead to damping off (pythium). So careful monitoring with a hygrometer (humidity monitor) and ventilation to keep the levels between 50-70% is desirable. SHAPIRO: Mendoza mixed simulated Martian soil and frass in different ratios to see what best supported growing English pea plants. This should give you plenty of run-off (water draining from the bottom of the pot) leaving your soil fully wet. This not only replicates a natural rain shower, but as the roots intake water, the rhizosphere dries out and the roots then spread out in search of more water. This expands the rhizosphere, giving bigger roots with more potential to absorb nutrients. As the rhizosphere dries out, air replaces the water allowing the microbes and the roots themselves to respirate. If the soil isn’t allowed to dry or becomes waterlogged through poor drainage, many microbes die. How do I mix nutrients?The study used simulated regolith rather than the real thing because genuine lunar soil, as one might imagine, is in short supply on Earth. The researchers used volcanic material from the Changbai mountains of China's Jilin Province to create soil with similar chemical and physical properties to lunar regolith.

MATT DAMON: (As Mark Watney) So I got to figure out a way to grow three years' worth of food here on a planet where nothing grows. MENDOZA: Frass does seem to have a certain added benefit. At about 10% mixture, it seems to add enough nutrients to the soil but also not add too many.This question is not as straightforward as it appears. There are several factors which determine how much and how often you should be watering when growing seeds. But ultimately it comes down to experience and judgement. The three bacteria used in the study were: Bacillus mucilaginosus, Bacillus megaterium and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The researchers tested other bacteria as well, but those did not produce the same beneficial effects. Seed coatings (Testa) often need soaking to soften or scratching (scarification) to help it to break open and germinate. In the wild this would happen with weathering or animal interference. For the organic grower they have the oldtimer granules to boost the beneficial microbe population. They also have their dual action natural pest and fungus control spray - Bugicide.