What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether nitrogen isotope compositions differ systematically between synthetic fertilizers and organic-permitted fertilizers to support methods for distinguishing organic from conventional crops.

September 1, 2007Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies

Fertilizer nitrogen isotope signatures

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Authors

ABAlison S. BatemanUniversity of East Anglia SKSimon KellyInternational Atomic Energy Agency

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Implication

Comparative isotope analysis reveals distinct delta15N signatures between synthetic and organic fertilizers, indicating potential for verifying crop cultivation methods.

Key Points

To determine whether nitrogen isotope compositions differ systematically between synthetic fertilizers and organic-permitted fertilizers to support methods for distinguishing organic from conventional crops.
Measured delta15N values in synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and synthesized these new findings with existing literature datasets.
Compiled and analyzed delta15N isotope values across permitted organic cultivation inputs, including animal manures, composts, bloodmeal, bonemeal, hoof and horn, fishmeal, and seaweed fertilizers.
Synthetic fertilizers showed a narrow delta15N distribution centered near 0‰ (mean = 0.2‰, n = 153), with 80% of samples falling between -2‰ and 2‰, and 98.5% measuring below 4‰.
Organic-permitted fertilizers exhibited a substantially higher mean delta15N value of 8.5‰ and a broader range spanning from 0.6‰ to 36.7‰ (n = 83).

Cite This Study

Bateman et al. (2007) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a958b2baa92d0f3572ca6c4 https://doi.org/10.1080/10256010701550732

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Implication

Comparative isotope analysis reveals distinct delta15N signatures between synthetic and organic fertilizers, indicating potential for verifying crop cultivation methods.

Fertilizer nitrogen isotope signatures

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Fertilizer nitrogen isotope signatures

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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