Differences in Delta15n Signatures to Determine Plant Material From Integrated or Organic Greenhouse Production

Georgi, Michael; Boullenger, A.; Voerkelius, S.; Schnitzler, W. H.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2004.659.96

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“…+0.3 to +14.6 , while conventional plant products vary from negative (−4.0 ) to positive (+8.7 ) values (Tables 3 and 4). Larger differences in δ 15 N values between organically and conventionally grown vegetables have been reported for tomatoes and Chinese cabbage, whereas smaller differences appear for lettuce, carrots, and peas (Georgi et al, 2004;Bateman et al, 2005Yun et al, 2006;Rogers, 2008;Šturm and Lojen, 2011). Therefore, it may only be practical to approach differentiation on a product-specific basis.…”

Section: Differentiation Of Organic and Conventional Plant Products δmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Principles and Limitations of Stable Isotopes in Differentiating Organic and Conventional Foodstuffs: 1. Plant Products

Inácio

Chalk

Magalhães

2013

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

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Among the lighter elements having two or more stable isotopes (H, C, N, O, S), δ(15)N appears to be the most promising isotopic marker to differentiate plant products from conventional and organic farms. Organic plant products vary within a range of δ(15)N values of +0.3 to +14.6%, while conventional plant products range from negative to positive values, i.e. -4.0 to +8.7%. The main factors affecting δ(15)N signatures of plants are N fertilizers, biological N2 fixation, plant organs and plant age. Correlations between mode of production and δ(13)C (except greenhouse tomatoes warmed with natural gas) or δ(34)S signatures have not been established, and δ(2)H and δ(18)O are unsuitable markers due to the overriding effect of climate on the isotopic composition of plant-available water. Because there is potential overlap between the δ(15)N signatures of organic and conventionally produced plant products, δ(15)N has seldom been used successfully as the sole criterion for differentiation, but when combined with complementary analytical techniques and appropriate statistical tools, the probability of a correct identification increases. The use of organic fertilizers by conventional farmers or the marketing of organic produce as conventional due to market pressures are additional factors confounding correct identification. The robustness of using δ(15)N to differentiate mode of production will depend on the establishment of databases that have been verified for individual plant products.

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Section: Differentiation Of Organic and Conventional Plant Products δmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The extent of these differences will depend on the fertilizer δ 15 N value, and the rates of application over a given period of time. In the case of some greenhouse crops where soil organic N is low, plant δ 15 N values will closely resemble the fertilizer N source (Georgi et al, 2004).…”

Section: Fertilizer Nmentioning

confidence: 99%