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Wisconsin researcher studies nitrogen-fixing corn

The dripping gel harbors bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by the plant. (PHOTO: Howard-Yana Shapiro for the University of Wisconsin)

A University of Wisconsin researcher is hoping to use the traits from a variety of corn found in the Mexican mountains to reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer.

Jean-Michel Ané tells Brownfield the giant corn can stand more than 16 feet tall and unlike most corn, it can fix much of its own nitrogen similar to legumes.  “Right before tasseling, that corn gets 40-50 percent of its nitrogen from the air.”

Ane says the Mexican corn thrives in nutrient-poor soils but does need consistent rainfall because of its unique structure.  “That corn is producing lots of aerial roots and right after a rain, about twenty minutes after rain, these roots are covered up with slime.”

And, that slime in the aerial roots is home to a bacteria that gets nitrogen from the air.

Ane says he has been working with the plants for about ten years and is hopeful some of the traits can be used in commercial varieties to reduce the need for fertilizer.  He says along with lab work, there are test plots at two of the university’s research farms.

Listen to Jean-Michel Ané discuss the corn research with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.

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