Soil Test

by Ray R. Collins

Good soil nutrition is vital in Mars Base Zero. Using a kit for determining soil composition and pH, we tested the soil in square C of our 4 primary soil beds on May 12, 2002.

This bed had been fertilized using urine during the winter of 1999-2000, and unplanted since then. As expected the test results showed that nitrogen levels were high, potash (potassium) test failed (we are using old chemicals), and phosporous was low. This is as expected, since it matches the previous test with the exception of nitrogen. The nitrogen was added from the urine. Our pH is 6.5 (probably +/-0.5).