The Martian was both an enjoyable book and movie, although there were some inaccuracies. For instance, the dust storm that starts the whole story and the gravity on mars. But, most of the story was accurate. Like, when Mark Watney uses his background knowledge as a botanist and grows potatoes on Mars.
To grow potatoes on mars he uses the martian soil and human feces. Mark did this because he to make more food so he can survive longer on mars. Andy Weir didn’t know at the time when he wrote the novel, Martian soil has perchlorates, a type of salt that’s dangerous to the human body. The perchlorates would either make it more difficult for plants to grow or would make the plants toxic. The solution of this is very simple, you just wash the soil.
To grow potatoes on mars he uses the martian soil and human feces. Mark did this because he to make more food so he can survive longer on mars. Andy Weir didn’t know at the time when he wrote the novel, Martian soil has perchlorates, a type of salt that’s dangerous to the human body. The perchlorates would either make it more difficult for plants to grow or would make the plants toxic. The solution of this is very simple, you just wash the soil.