Evaluating maize cultivars that were bred under nutrient-limited biodynamic-organic conditions. II. Field trials with farmers

Evaluating maize cultivars that were bred under nutrient-limited biodynamic-organic conditions. II. Field trials with farmers | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Evaluating maize cultivars that were bred under nutrient-limited biodynamic-organic conditions. II. Field trials with farmers Walter A. Goldstein, James F. White This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9131735/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Mandaamin Institute (MI) hybrids, developed under biodynamic-organic conditions with limited nutrient availability, are colonized by seed-borne, endophytic bacteria. These hybrids were tested in multiple soils and farm systems. The best adapted MI hybrid (17.461) had similar grain yields to conventional hybrid FOS8500. FOS8500 responded positively to manure but 17.461 did not. 17.461 outyielded the conventional hybrid when manure was not applied. It produced slightly lower grain yields (8% in 2019) but higher stover and biomass yields/ha. In two years, 17.461 produced 9.3 and 22.5% more total protein/ha. 17.461 was more effective at obtaining and mobilizing macro-minerals into stover and micronutrients into grain. Its grain had 12% and 20% more macro-minerals, 28% and 98% more micro-minerals. In 2020, its grain had 11% more lysine, 21% more methionine, and 13% more cysteine. Tissue mineral, grain %N, and δ 15 N and δ 13 C levels, found between hybrids and soils, indicated that accumulation by plants of microbial biomass-N was enhanced on poorer, arable soils. δ 15 N correlated strongly and positively with increased N and minerals in both stover and grain and with more methionine and lysine in grain. 17.461 had higher δ 15 N isotope signature in stover and roots, suggesting uptake of N derived from microbial biomass. δ 15 N levels in grain varied with N limitation. Contributions from microbial partners to the total N in the plant were estimated at 27% in the 2019 trials on N rich soils and 61% in 2020 with less manuring. Maize with endophytes can reduce fertilizers and increase nutrient density and silage yield. Endophyte rhizophagy nutrient density nitrogen mineral nutrition methionine Full Text Additional Declarations Competing interest reported. The Mandaamin Institute (MI) varieties were developed at the MI under the directorship of Walter Goldstein. The MI receives some royalties from seed companies for these inbreds. However, Dr. Goldstein receives no direct income from sales or licensing of those varieties. Otherwise, the authors admit no competing financial interests affecting the research. Supplementary Files Supplementarymaterialforfieldtrialresearch.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 01 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 19 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 19 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 15 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9131735","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":616153636,"identity":"ce3420a4-1b05-45da-acc6-0859087f352c","order_by":0,"name":"Walter A. 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It produced slightly lower grain yields (8% in 2019) but higher stover and biomass yields/ha.\u0026nbsp; In two years, 17.461 produced 9.3 and 22.5% more total protein/ha.\u0026nbsp; 17.461 was more effective at obtaining and mobilizing macro-minerals into stover and micronutrients into grain.\u0026nbsp; Its grain had 12% and 20% more macro-minerals, 28% and 98% more micro-minerals.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; In 2020, its grain had 11% more lysine, 21% more methionine, and 13% more cysteine.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTissue mineral, grain %N, and δ\u003csup\u003e15\u003c/sup\u003eN and δ\u003csup\u003e13\u003c/sup\u003eC levels, found between hybrids and soils, indicated that accumulation by plants of microbial biomass-N was enhanced on poorer, arable soils.\u0026nbsp; δ\u003csup\u003e15\u003c/sup\u003eN correlated strongly and positively with increased N and minerals in both stover and grain and with more methionine and lysine in grain.\u0026nbsp; 17.461 had higher δ\u003csup\u003e15\u003c/sup\u003eN isotope signature in stover and roots, suggesting uptake of N derived from microbial biomass. δ\u003csup\u003e15\u003c/sup\u003eN levels in grain varied with N limitation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContributions from microbial partners to the total N in the plant were estimated at 27% in the 2019 trials on N rich soils and 61% in 2020 with less manuring.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaize with endophytes can reduce fertilizers and increase nutrient density and silage yield.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Evaluating maize cultivars that were bred under nutrient-limited biodynamic-organic conditions. 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