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> I’m not sure what if anything is deferent about this species of corn This species of corn has weird roots halfway up which drip goop down on the ground. The
by RajT88 3y ago
> I’m not sure what if anything is deferent about this species of corn
This species of corn has weird roots halfway up which drip goop down on the ground. The goop contains nitrogen fixing bacteria from the soil which pull nitrogen out of the air to fertilize the soil.
It is massively different from what you say. It would vastly reduce farm runoff while increasing yields. All facts contained within the article.
- adastra22 3y agoI’m not sure you understand my post. Beans have the exact same nitrogen fixing bacteria in their roots too.
- RajT88 3y agoBeans still require extra fertilizer. This corn species does not. Also it is corn, and not beans...? Beans is used in crop rotation in service of corn harvests. What if all of a sudden you don't have to rotate crops? This is a big deal. Don't pooh-pooh it.
- adastra22 3y agoBeans have been used for thousands of years without fertilizer. They restore the nutrients in the ground by exactly the same process as this maize, because it is the exact same nitrogen-fixing bacteria at work. I'm pooh-pooh'ing the idea because this isn't any more practical than rotating beans to restore a field was. These microbes don't fix nitrogen anywhere fast enough to supply acceptable yields. You end up with fields giving out 3-4x less end product with this strategy vs. using artificial fertilizer. You're not going to feed the worlds population with replenishing crops.
- RajT88 3y agoI defer to you, internet expert.