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Crop water status from plant stable carbon isotope values: A test case for monsoonal climates
Citation
Jones, PJ and O'Connell, TC and Jones, MK and Singh, RN and Petrie, CA, Crop water status from plant stable carbon isotope values: A test case for monsoonal climates, The Holocene pp. 1-12. ISSN 0959-6836 (2021) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1177/0959683621994649
Abstract
Stable carbon isotope analysis is increasingly used in archaeology as an indicator of crop water status and/or water management regime. While the
technique shows promise, robust modern baseline studies are required to inform and validate archaeological interpretations. Here, we test stable carbon
isotope values as a crop water status proxy in a monsoonal climatic context for the first time. Specifically, we test the relationship between grain stable
carbon isotope values (δ13Cgrain), water availability, irrigation and soil type in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. (Zohary and Hopf.)) in north-west India, with the
aim of deriving a locally-appropriate model for isotopic interpretation. We test this relationship across a substantial rainfall gradient (200–1000mm/year)
and find a negative logarithmic relationship between climatic water availability and δ13C. However, there is significant noise in the relationship, and we
report δ13Cgrain variation of over 3‰ amongst samples drawn from similar climatic contexts. Soil type, irrigation type and irrigation frequency have no
clear modifying effects. We conclude that: (1) barley stable carbon isotope values can act as an archaeological water status proxy in monsoonal areas, but
will be most sensitive in areas receiving <450mm rainfall per year; and (2) it is not possible to precisely infer water management regimes. On the basis of
our results, we propose guidelines for archaeological barley stable carbon isotope interpretation in north-west India and analogous monsoonal climates.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | archaeology, stable isotope analysis, water stress, Indus Civilisation |
| Research Division: | History, Heritage and Archaeology |
| Research Group: | Archaeology |
| Research Field: | Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Americas |
| Objective Division: | Culture and Society |
| Objective Group: | Understanding past societies |
| Objective Field: | Understanding Asia's past |
| UTAS Author: | Jones, PJ (Dr Penelope Jones) |
| ID Code: | 143006 |
| Year Published: | 2021 |
| Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
| Deposited On: | 2021-02-19 |
| Last Modified: | 2021-02-22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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