Growth and Nitrogen Fixation of Lotus japonicus Under Simulated Martian Soil- and Atmospheric Conditions

This dataset accompanies a bachelor's research project exploring the feasibility of plant growth on Mars using only locally available resources. The legume Lotus japonicus, was grown under Mars-analog conditions to evaluate its development and resilience, and the potential role of nitrogen-fixating bacterium Mesorhizobium sp. LjRoot218. The research includes three interconnected experiments: Plant Growth on Simulated Regolith: L. japonicus was cultivated on Mojave Mars Simulant (MMS-2) and nutrient-free quartz sand, with and without inoculation using the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Mesorhizobium sp. LjRoot218. Soil pH and Buffering Analysis: The buffering capacity and alkalinity (pH ~10–11) of MMS-2 were assessed through acid and buffer treatments. Seed Germination Under Atmospheric Stress: Seeds were germinated in a custom-built low-pressure chamber simulating a Mars-like atmosphere (~300 mbar) with Earth-Mars gas ratios. The repository includes: Raw and processed plant growth data R scripts for statistical analysis and visualization Time-series plant photographs Soil titration and pH data Detailed experimental protocols and data management documentation Purpose:This work aims to determine whether legumes like L. japonicus can survive and fix nitrogen under Martian conditions and to inform future research in extraterrestrial agriculture and plant resilience in extreme environments.