Decaying animal matter prevents sprouting in Trifolium repens with no effect on adult plant growth

Abstract

Intentional homicide is an illegal activity and prevalence is not likely to decline in coming years. Many victims of homicide are buried shallowly by hand in unmarked sites, referred to as clandestine graves. Tools to better spot these graves are of benefit to law enforcement, with the cadaver island effect, a local die-off of plants surrounding the body, often being used to this end. However, little work has been done addressing the question of whether this cadaver island effect is still seen above buried bodies, what causes this effect, and whether it effects adult plants and seedlings differently. This study set out to address the growth and sprouting (seedling emergence from soil) response of Trifolium repens (white Dutch clover) to buried body proxies of cheese and liver in multiple soil types. Soil type had a larger effect on adult plant growth than body proxy, with Maryland clay and Maryland clay/leaf humus mixes sporting the most retarded growth irrespective of treatment. Body proxy had a significant effect on plant sprouting, with 100% of pots with proxies sporting a ring of no sprouting (zone of inhibition) around the buried material. Cheese produced a significantly smaller zone of inhibition than liver.