Written by  "Chipmunk" Bergin"

The mission of this research is to study plant health and the development of mature seed into nutrient dense foods.

While soil elemental profile and reserves are important, our study also focuses on microbial resources and their impact on plant nutrient availability. Only organic production fields are a part of this project, with their heirloom corn and wheat. Last year we received a grant through the Oak Hill Foundation, assisting us with our efforts to expand this research. This award will allow us to look at heirloom corn and wheat in several different sites throughout Oregon this year.

Locally adapted varieties of seed for organic production is another goal of this research. Five growers will participate this year in data collection, focusing on the exchange of elements and the microbial pathway between soil, seed and subsequent nutrient density of the grain.

2007' Project Benchmarks

The discovery that a purple sweetcorn "Double Red" was about two and a half times higher than a red sweet corn "Blood Brothers" in the antioxidant, anthocyanin. Further we discovered that plant stress can increase anthocyanin levels while, decreasing total protein in the crop by about 2%. Yield of the red sweet corn was heavily impacted by fungal disease in production plots.

Hard red spring wheat planted in may in the Willamette Valley had serious yield problems related to nutrient deficiencies and microbial diseases. Significant differences in elemental iron uptake of an heirloom wheat "Turkey Red" were found compared with a modern variety from North Dakota.

Regardless of the yield in 2007 seed will be saved and planted as part of the continuation of the Nutrition Project in 2008.