E. coli survives longer in poultry-amended Georgia onion soils, two-year study finds
New research suggests that poultry litter-based soil amendments and weather conditions, particularly extreme weather events, may influence how long bacteria survive in agricultural soils used to grow sweet onions. The findings could help inform food safety risk management for produce growers.
A two-year study in Georgia has found that E. coli bacteria survive longer in soils amended with heat-treated poultry pellets and composted poultry litter compared to untreated soils. Researchers at Risk Analysis published their findings, which could aid food safety risk management for onion growers. The survival of E. coli was influenced by both field environmental conditions and the type of soil amendment used.
Higher humidity and warmer soil temperatures favored bacterial persistence, while stronger winds generally reduced survival. The study highlights the importance of considering local conditions and extreme weather events in managing the risk of bacterial contamination in agricultural soils.
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