Author(s)

Lorra Belle Hill

School of Arts and Sciences, Department Natural Science, Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, USA.

Fecal coliform bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) are one of the main sources of groundwater pollution. An assessment of the transport and Persistence of E. coli in poultry litter amended Decatur silty Clay soil and Hartsells Sandy soil was conducted using soil columns and simulated groundwater leaching. Enumeration of initial E. coli was determined to range from 2.851 × 10³ to 3.044 × 10³ CFU per gram of soil. These results have been used in a batch study to determine the persistence rate of E. coli in Decatur silty Clay soil and Hartsells Sandy soil. Results prove that E. coli survival growth rate increases for clay soil later than and at a higher rate than sandy soil. The column study has determined that E. coli was transported at a rate of 3.7 × 10⁶ CFU for Decatur silty loam and 6.3 × 10⁶ CFU for Hartsells sandy per gram of soil. Further, linear regression analysis predictions show higher porosity and soil moisture content affect transport, and Hartsells sandy soil has higher transport of E. coli due to its higher porosity and lower volumetric water content.

Transport, Leachate, Persistence, Poultry Litter, E. coli

Hill, L. (2024) The Transport and Persistence of Escherichia coli in Leachate from Poultry Litter Amended Soils. Open Journal of Soil Science, 14, 269-282. doi: 10.4236/ojss.2024.144015.