Oats may grow better in water depleted in oxygen 18 and deuterium

WHILE growing oats at different temperatures in water of different ¹⁸O and deuterium (D) abundances, we noticed that oats grown in Antarctic water in which is depleted in ¹⁸O and D by −49‰ and −400‰, relative to standard mean ocean water (SMOW used as a comparative reference in hydrogen and oxygen isotope studies), showed initial growth 1–2 weeks sooner than did oats grown in water containing greater ¹⁸O and D concentrations. The oats seemed to grow better in water which was most depleted in the stable isotopes throughout the growth period.