Mobilization of ionophore antibiotics and glyphosate after a rainfall simulation on agricultural soils amended with poultry litter

Poultry litter (PL) is a majority waste of the intensive avian production, commonly used as an organic amendment in agricultural soils. We studied the input of pollutants from the PL, as inorganic P and ionophore antibiotics (IPA), and the influence on soil pollutants (GLP and AMPA) in real systems, after a rainfall simulation on an agronomic amended soil with PL at two residence times. Physicochemical parameters were altered in the runoff after the amendment. PL from commercial farms present a preliminary load of monensin and salinomycin. The mobility of IPA by surface runoff (0.8-31%) and leaching (0.4-38%) was determined, with monensin showing the maximum losses in both processes at both residence times. PL amendments act as a pollution diffuse source of IPA. Moreover, the amendment enhanced the mobility of GLP and AMPA in soils. Maximum losses of GLP in runoff increased from 0.56% to 9.84% in soil with PL treatment. The results were related to the amounts of P released in the surface runoff. Strategies for reducing the animal wastes and their antibiotic content must be investigated regarding the productive practice involving these residues, as water and soil conservation are proven to be a key asset in the sustainability and success of circular economy processes. This is the first study to demonstrate the combined release of pollutants from multiple origins, after the amendment with poultry litter on real agricultural soils.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the combined release of pollutants from multiple origins, showcasing the impact of poultry litter on soil pollution. Strategies for reducing animal wastes and their antibiotic content are crucial for water and soil conservation in circular economy processes.