Summary
This study examined how aged turkey manure fertilisation alters soil-plant systems, specifically investigating impacts on soil properties, microbial communities, and the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes. Whilst turkey manure amendment increased overall microbial diversity in leaf endophytes and shifted soil chemistry (reducing organic carbon and C/N ratio), it also introduced multiple ARGs into the soil-plant system, with β-lactam and tetracycline resistance genes persisting in soil and appearing in leaf endophytes, raising food safety concerns. The findings suggest that whilst aged manure may enhance some aspects of soil microbial function, its use requires careful management to limit the environmental and potentially zoonotic spread of antibiotic resistance.
Regional applicability
The study does not specify the geographic location of the trial, limiting direct application to United Kingdom farming contexts. However, turkey farming is practised in the UK, and the findings on ARG dissemination via manure fertilisation are transferable and relevant to UK policy on sustainable manure management and antimicrobial stewardship in agriculture.
Key measures
Soil organic carbon, humus content, C/N ratio, AWCD (average well colour development), Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H'), evenness (E), substrate richness (S), presence/absence of specific ARGs (blaTEM, tetA, tetC, tetM, linA, aac(6')-Ib-cr) detected via molecular methods
Outcomes reported
The study measured changes in soil physicochemical properties, microbial diversity (via AWCD, Shannon-Weaver index, and substrate richness), and the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) across soil and plant compartments following aged turkey manure amendment.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.