The Effect of Fertilization with Antibiotic-Contaminated Manure on Microbial Processes in Soil

Jadwiga Wyszkowska (), Dariusz Mikulski, Agata Borowik, Magdalena Zaborowska, Jan Kucharski, Krzysztof Kozłowski, Magdalena Bilecka, Anna Gajda, Konrad Pietruk, Piotr Jedziniak, Katarzyna Ognik and Jan Jankowski
Additional contact information
Jadwiga Wyszkowska: Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Dariusz Mikulski: Department of Poultry Science and Apiculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Agata Borowik: Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Magdalena Zaborowska: Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Jan Kucharski: Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Krzysztof Kozłowski: Department of Poultry Science and Apiculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Magdalena Bilecka: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
Anna Gajda: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
Konrad Pietruk: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
Piotr Jedziniak: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
Katarzyna Ognik: Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Jan Jankowski: Department of Poultry Science and Apiculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-30

Abstract: Antibiotics are a great blessing for humanity, and they have saved millions of human lives. Antimicrobials have enabled humans to produce animal-based foods that are free of pathogens. However, antibiotics also have a number of weaknesses. The use of antimicrobials in livestock production can have adverse consequences for the natural environment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of manure from turkeys administered monensin (M), enrofloxacin (E), and doxycycline (D) as soil fertilizer and to determine the impact of these antibiotics on the physicochemical, microbiological, and biochemical properties of soil in a pot experiment. The following treatments were established: unfertilized soil (S), soil fertilized with turkey manure free of antibiotics (C), soil fertilized with turkey manure containing only M (M), soil fertilized with turkey manure containing M and E (ME), and soil fertilized with turkey manure containing M, E, and D (MED). The experimental plant was Zea mays . The study demonstrated that the soil application of turkey manure containing all three antibiotics (MED) did not inhibit the growth of Zea mays , did not lead to adverse changes in the physicochemical properties of soil, and did not disrupt the abundance or diversity of culturable microorganisms, despite the fact that these antibiotics were identified in both the soil and Zea mays roots. The application of manure containing M, E, and D in the cultivation of Zea mays contributed to the transfer and presence of E and D in soil and maize roots. Antibiotics were not detected in above-ground plant parts. Monensin was not identified in soil or plant samples. The tested manure induced significant changes in the biochemical index of soil quality and in the microbiome of non-culturable bacteria and fungi at both phylum and genus levels. These results indicate that manure from turkeys administered M, E, and D should be used with caution to avoid permanent changes in the microbiome and biochemical properties of soil. Manure contaminated with antimicrobials can be used in the production of fodder crops that do not accumulate antibiotics in above-ground parts.

Keywords: antibiotics in soil; antibiotics in plants; soil microbiome; soil enzymes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/979/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/979/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:9:p:979-:d:1646977

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().