Farming Systems Trial: Nutrient Analysis of Organic Versus Conventional Oats

Abstract

Nutrient density of food is thought to be decreasing due to a decrease in bioavailability of nutrients in the soil.Literature suggests that the better the soil quality in which food is grown in, the higher the nutrient density of the plants grown in that soil will be.Organic soil typically has a higher soil quality.Since the 1990's, consumer demand for organic products has been expanding by double digits almost every year.With such an increase in consumer demand, the objective of this study was to identify if organic agricultural practices produce a more nutrient dense food product.For the last 35 years, Rodale Institute has been conducting a side-by-side analysis of organically versus conventionally grown grains in their Farming Systems Trial (FST).A tremendous amount of data on yields, profit, energy input, and greenhouse gases has been collected over time, but little has been done to determine the nutritive quality of grains from this trial.The nutrient research examined the nutrient density, measured as protein, mineral, vitamin and polyphenolic content, in oats grown organically or conventionally in FST and correlate them to soil health factors such as soil minerals, total C, N, H, and S ratios, biological activity, organic matter and soil aggregation.Key findings of this nutrient research have assessed that the nitrogen content of legume organic till and no-till, and conventional till oats contain the greatest concentration of nitrogen (P < 0.0001).It was xi also found that legume organic till and no-till oats contained the greatest concentration of total and crude protein (Legume till = Crude Protein 11.12 g / 100 g, Total 10.07 g/100 g; Legume no-till = Crude Protein 11.10g / 100 g, Total 9.97 g/100 g) (P < 0.05).Table 1.Classification of plant nutrients according to their biochemical functions (Taiz, 2002). Mineral Nutrient Functions GroupNutrients that are part of carbon compounds N Constituents of amino acids, amides, proteins, nucleic acids, nucleotides, coenzymes, hexoamines, etc. SComponent of cysteine, methionine, and proteins.Constituent of lipoic acid, coenzyme A, thiamine pyrophosphate, glutathione, biotin, adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate, and 3-phosphoadenosine GroupNutrients that are important in energy storage or structural integrity P Component of sugar phosphates, nucleic acids, nucleotides, coenzymes, phospholipids, phytic acid, etc. Has a key role in reactions that involve ATP. SiDeposited as amorphous silica in cell walls.Contributes to cell wall mechanical properties, including rigidity and elasticity. BComplexes with mannitol, manran, polymanuronic acid and other constituents of cell walls involved in cell elongation and nucleic acid metabolism. GroupNutrients that remain in ionic form. KRequired as a cofactor for more than 40 enzymes.Principal cation in establishing cell turgor and maintaining cell electro-neutrality Ca Constituent of the middle lamella of cell walls.Required as a cofactor by some enzymes involved in hydrolysis of ATP and phospholipids.Acts as a second messenger in metabolic regulation. MgRequired by many enzymes involved in phosphate transfer.Constituent of the chlorophyll molecule ClRequired for the photosynthetic reactions involved in O 2 evolution. MnRequired for activity of some dehydrogenases, decarboxylases, kinases, oxidases, and peroxidases.Involved with other cation-activated enzymes and photosynthetic O 2 evolution. NaInvolved with the regeneration of phosphoenol pyruvate in C 4 and CAM plants.Substitute for potassium in some functions. GroupNutrients that are involved in redox reactions. FeConstituent of cytochromes and non-heme iron proteins involved in photosynthesis, N 2 fixation, and respiration. ZnConstituent of alcohol dehydrogenase glutarric dehydrogenase, carbonic anhydrase, etc. CuComponent of ascorbic acid oxidase, tyrosinase, monoamine oxidase, uricase, cytochrome oxidase, phenolase, laccase, and p-lastocyanin. NiConstituent of urease.In N 2 -fixing bacteria, constituent of hydrogenases. MoConstituent of nitrogenase, nitrate reductase, and xanthine dehydrogenase.

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