Participants are invited to visit a maize experiment at Waterman Farm in Columbus, Ohio (adjacent to OSU) where different maize varieties were grown during the summer of 2024 that fix nitrogen (N) from the air, promoted by beneficial bacteria in aerial roots with mucilage, offsetting the need for mineral N fertilization. Previous research suggests that several maize accessions selected for this study can significantly benefit from an association with endophytic and free-living N-fixing microorganisms, which are harbored in brace roots and aerial roots of maize. Maize accessions studied were Mexican Wild Maize (Teosinte), Landrace Maize from Mexico and South America, as well as Heirloom and Improved Maize (grown on 496 field plots).
Visitors should park at the blue “Event Parking” lot. See map here.
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Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays), known for its tall stature and high productivity, is a plant with high nitrogen (N) demands, requiring more N than many other staple crops, including rice and wheat. Within agricultural settings, the N demand of maize is commonly met through supplying fertilizers which can give rise to environmental issues, such as pollution through N leaching and soil erosion, which eventually cause eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems.
In this light, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), which transforms atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into a form that can be easily absorbed by plants through associations with diazotrophic bacteria, has been at the center of discussion for decades. Understanding the associations between maize and microbial communities promoting BNF can provide researchers and farmers a reliable solution to decrease over-reliance on fertilizers and reduce environmental hazards.
The Maize plots in this experiment are a great example that Improved, Heirloom and Mexican Landrace Maize can be grown in Ohio with little nitrogen input (fertilizer rate: 10 kg N/ha as side dressing at growth stage 4).
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10:30-11:30 | This event will take place after the EPN breakfast and will run for about one hour.
At arrival, participants will be provided plot maps, and they can walk through the plots and observe the different maize plants, which will be dry, but still standing to observe plant height and aerial roots. OSU researchers will mingle with participants and will answer questions in the field.
Posters will be displayed at the field explaining the project (pictures of maize plants in summer) and main scientific goals and outcomes (several data tables and figures).
Baskets with maize ears from different Mexican Landraces and Heirloom varieties will be displayed at the plots for participants to observe differences in kernel color and ear size. -
There are no hazards, the terrain is flat. Plenty of parking is available next to the Waterman Extension building. Walking from the parking lot to the plots takes two minutes (100 yards), no computer/internet is required. Visitors are encouraged to wear mud boots and should bring an umbrella in case there is rain in the weather forecast.
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Nicola Lorenz: lorenz.64@osu.edu | (614) 632-3023
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The maize experiment is divided in two objectives: 28 maize accessions are studied in objective 1 (176 plots) and 60 maize accessions were studied in objective 2 (320 plots).
Objective 1 is primarily studying how different Wild Maize varieties differ in their ability to produce aerial roots, while objective 2 determines the variation of aerial root production and N-fixation among Wild, Landrace, Heirloom, and Improved maize. This maize study at Waterman Farm is part of an interdisciplinary project funded by USDA-NIFA, Project No. OHO03097-CG (Project director: Kristin Mercer) and is analyzing crop performance, aerial root development, and maize N-fixation from the atmosphere.