Antibiotics in manure change soil bacteria, say German scientists

Michael Dibb [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

A German study has linked agricultural use of antibiotics in animals via animal manures with changes in soil bacteria that can decrease crop yields and negatively affect humans, according to a Phys.org article.

The scientists found that soil fertilized repeatedly with antibiotic contaminated manure showed a decrease in beneficial bacteria that help to maintain good soil quality.  This has a long-term impact on crop yields the paper says.

Moreover, the experiments showed that the number of microbes living in the soil that are harmful to humans increased.

"... We must therefore urgently develop a new mindset as regards the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry"

Please read the link to see the details of this research

Journal Link