The feasibility of using delta15N and delta13C values for discriminating between conventionally and organically fertilized pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the feasibility of using leaf and fruit delta15N and delta13C values to discriminate between conventionally and organically fertilized peppers, when conventional management involves the application of organic amendment for soil preparation. All of the treatments involved adding horse manure to the soil before applying different rates of synthetic N fertilizers: 0 (T1 and T2), 150 (T3), and 300 kg ha(-1) (T4). The difference between T1 and T2 was that no synthetic fertilizer had been applied to plot T1 during the 5 years prior to the experiment. Significant differences were found in the delta15N values of leaves and fruit from the plants grown under organic or mixed fertilization. The results indicate the possibility of using 15N natural abundance as an indicator of fertilization management. On the other hand, delta13C values did not contribute any additional information for discriminating between the organically and the synthetically and organically fertilized peppers.