Stable isotope biogeochemistry of seabird guano fertilization: results from growth chamber studies with maize (Zea mays).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stable isotope analysis is being utilized with increasing regularity to examine a wide range of issues (diet, habitat use, migration) in ecology, geology, archaeology, and related disciplines. A crucial component to these studies is a thorough understanding of the range and causes of baseline isotopic variation, which is relatively poorly understood for nitrogen (δ(15)N). Animal excrement is known to impact plant δ(15)N values, but the effects of seabird guano have not been systematically studied from an agricultural or horticultural standpoint.

Methodology/principal findings

This paper presents isotopic (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) and vital data for maize (Zea mays) fertilized with Peruvian seabird guano under controlled conditions. The level of (15)N enrichment in ferti

SUBMITTER: Szpak P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3316503 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature