Comparing the yield and the nutritional and nutraceutical composition of pigmented maize landraces (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) grown under agroecological and conventional management

Maize, a global staple, faces sustainability challenges in conventional farming.This study investigated, in a participatory way, the impact of agroecological versus conventional practices on maize yield and grain composition, focusing on three Mexican landraces of varying colours (yellow, blue, and pink).Measures included grain yield components, bromatological composition, bioactive characterisation, and antioxidant activity to address the concerns of both producers and consumers of maize grains.Agroecological management, incorporating manure, and manual/mechanical pest control yielded 3x more grain than conventional methods.Agroecological grains showed lower fat, protein, and dietary fibre values (p<0.001).Bioactives varied significantly (p0.026):anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and condensed tannins were influenced by variety, while cultivation practices influenced phenolics.Anthocyanin-rich varieties (blue and pink) responded favourably to agroecological management, enhancing soil fertility in high precipitation conditions.Carotenoid-rich maize showed better responses to conventional fertilisation.While agroecological management did not significantly alter grain composition, it outperformed the yield of conventional methods under excess rainfall, increasing nutrient production per unit area.This suggests agroecological approaches could enhance food security for maize producers in the short term and potentially the health benefits of landrace maize consumption, emphasising the importance of sustainable practices for smallholder agriculture and local food systems.