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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #369521
Research Project: Assessing and Managing Antibiotic Resistance, Nutrients, and Pathogens In Animal-Impacted Agroecosystems

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Title: Influence of setback distance on antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in runoff and soil following the land application of swine manure slurry

Author
item Gilley, John
item BARTELT-HUNT, SHANNON - University Of Nebraska
item SNOW, DANIEL - University Of Nebraska
item SCHMIDT, AMY - University Of Nebraska
item ESKRIDGE, KENT - University Of Nebraska
item LI, XU - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2020
Publication Date: 3/24/2020
Citation: Gilley, J.E., Bartelt-Hunt, S.L., Snow, D.D., Schmidt, A.M., Eskridge, K.M., Li, X. 2020. Influence of setback distance on antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in runoff and soil following the land application of swine manure slurry. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 54(8):4800-4809. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b04834.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b04834

Interpretive Summary: The introduction of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into the environment following the land application of swine slurry can be a potential public health concern, if contaminants originating from manure reach surface waters. The objective of this investigation was to assess the effects of setback distance, which determines how close manure may be applied in relation to surface water, on the transport of antibiotics and ARGs in runoff and soil following land application of swine slurry. Rainfall simulation tests were conducted on a series of plots in the field, each of which contained an upslope region where slurry was applied (manure region) and an adjacent downslope area that did not receive slurry (setback region). Results show that all three antibiotics and seven out of the ten genes tested decreased significantly in runoff with increased setback distance. However, most of the genes were not consistently detected in soil, suggesting limited impacts of manure on the ARG profiles of soil in the setback region. Our findings suggest a setback distance of 65 m for manure-borne antibiotics and ARGs in runoff to reach background levels under the established experimental conditions.

Technical Abstract: The introduction of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into the environment following the land application of swine slurry can be a potential public health concern, if contaminants originating from manure reach surface waters. The objective of this investigation was to assess the effects of setback distance, which determines how close manure may be applied in relation to surface water, on the transport of antibiotics and ARGs in runoff and soil following land application of swine slurry. Rainfall simulation tests were conducted on a series of plots in the field, each of which contained an upslope region where slurry was applied (manure region) and an adjacent downslope area that did not receive slurry (setback region). Results show that all three antibiotics (chlortetracycline, lincomycin, and tiamulin) and seven out of the ten genes tested (erm(B), erm(C), intI1, tet(O), tet(Q), tet(X), and the 16S rRNA gene) decreased significantly in runoff with increased setback distance. In comparison, only blaTEM, chlortetracycline and tiamulin decreased significantly in surface soil with increased setback distance. Most of the other genes were not consistently detected in soil, suggesting limited impacts of manure on the ARG profiles of soil in the setback region. Our findings suggest a setback distance of 65 m for manure-borne antibiotics and ARGs in runoff to reach background levels under the established experimental conditions.