US EPA

6980822 

Journal Article 

Multielement isotope ratios of vegetables from integrated and organic production 

Georgi, M; Voerkelius, S; Rossmann, A; Grassmann, J; Schnitzler, WH; , 

2005 

1 

Plant and Soil
ISSN: 0032-079X
EISSN: 1573-5036 

SPRINGER 

DORDRECHT 

93-100 

10.1007/s11104-005-0258-3 

WOS:000233381600009 

In this paper we discuss the use of isotope ratios as indicators of organic production. Few studies have investigated the influence of plant nutrition on the isotopic signatures of plants. As plant nutrition is often significantly different between integrated and organic production systems the isotope ratios in the plants may reflect this. Plant samples from a 2-year field-experiment were analyzed for N-15, C-13 and S-34 content of the bulk-material and O-18-content of the leaf water. In this experiment cabbages (Brassica oleracea v. capitata f. alba cv. Rolly), onions (Allium cepa cv. Alisa Craig), lettuces (Lactuca sativa v. capitata cv. Ponchito) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinesis cv. Parkin) were cultivated according to good agricultural practices for integrated and organic production. No differences in the delta S-34 and delta O-18 values of the plants grown under the two production systems were observed. The organically produced vegetables were significantly enriched in N-15 and depleted in C-13 compared to those grown under the integrated system.