Relations between free energy and grain composition of sweet maize from ecological production

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different cover crops, in combination with microbiological fertilizer on variability of main kernel components: proteins, starch and oil and their relation with different water types: free, bulk and chemically bound water (present in the form of Gibbs free energy) as factors which contribute to kernel nutritional quality. Applied cover crops and microbiological fertilizer expressed variable effect on content of starch, oil and particularly of proteins. Free energy of free water was negatively correlated with protein and starch and positive with oil in sweet maize kernel, indicating its significance in accumulation of all three examined components. Leguminous cover crops were important for protein accumulation in grain, together with decrease in available sorption sites and decrease in endergonic reactions, what could in result contribute to the increased nutritional quality of produced kernel.