Abstract
Poultry manure is used as fertilizer in natura , but little is known about whether it contaminates the soil with pathogenic organisms. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of organic, organomineral and mineral fertilizers on soil contamination by enteric pathogens, using poultry manure as the organic fertilizer. Manure was applied in field experiments at rates of 7.0 ton. ha -1 (maize crop, 2008/2009), 8.0 ton. ha -1 (wheat crop, 2009) and 14 ton. ha -1 (maize crop, 2010/2011). Organomineral fertilizer was applied at the same rates but was comprised of 50% manure and 50% mineral fertilizer. At 30 and 70 days after fertilization, the organic fertilizer and the upper 0-5 cm layer of the soil were tested for the presence of helminth eggs and larvae and enteropathogenic bacteria. Fecal and non-fecal coliforms ( Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringes ) were found in the organic fertilizer, but neither Salmonella spp. nor enteroparasites were detected. The population of enteropathogenic bacteria in the soil was similar among the treatments for all crops at both evaluation times. The population of thermotolerant coliforms in the organic fertilizer was larger than the maximum level allowed in Brazil, but neither the organic or nor the organomineral fertilizer contaminated the soil.
Highlights
The application of agricultural residues as organic fertilizer has grown in Brazil and worldwide
The discrepancies in the literature about enteropathogenic bacterial contamination of soil are related to the many different factors that affect the survivability of enteric organisms in the soil, including the type of organic fertilizer; fertilized crop, management and dosage; the use of mitigation practices; and environmental factors such as soil type, pH, humidity and temperature (MACIOROWSKIA et al, 2004; FORSLUND et al, 2011)
In the Santos et al (2010) study, the organic fertilizer was stored for 120 days in compost heaps, whereas in the experiment in this study, the manure was deposited on the soil a few days after it was produced
Summary
The application of agricultural residues as organic fertilizer has grown in Brazil and worldwide. The application of high doses of organic fertilizers has the potential to contaminate soil and water with enteropathogenic microorganisms and enteroparasites (HAWKE; SUMMERS, 2006; MACIOROWSKIA et al, 2004; UNC; GOSS, 2004). The survival of pathogenic organisms in latosols fertilized with poultry manure has not been studied in Brazilian soils and climate conditions, and there are only a few reports from other countries (McMURRY et al, 1998) This lack of data makes predicting the environmental impacts of fertilization with poultry manure difficult; these impacts are of great concern (MACIOROWSKIA et al, 2004; SANTOS et al, 2010)
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