Many antibiotics, including sulfonamides, are being frequently detected in soil and groundwater. Livestock waste is an important source of antibiotic pollution, and sulfonamides may be present along with organic-rich substances. This study aims to investigate the sorption reaction of two sulfonamides, sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and sulfapyridine (SPY) in two organic-rich sorbents: a commercial peat soil (38.41% carbon content) and a composted manure (24.33% carbon content). Batch reactions were conducted to evaluate the impacts of pH (4.5–9.5) and background ions (0.001 M–0.1 M CaCl2) on their sorption. Both linear partitioning and Freundlich sorption isotherms fit the reaction well. The n values of Freundlich isotherm were close to 1 in most conditions suggesting that the hydrophobic partition is the major adsorption mechanism. In terms of SMZ, Kd declined with increases in the pH. SPY has a pyridine group that is responsible for adsorption at high pH values, and thus, no significant trend between Kd and pH was observed. At high pH ranges, SPY sorption deviated significantly from linear partitioning. The results suggested the sorption mechanism of these two sulfonamide antibiotics tended to be hydrophobic partitioning under most of the experimental conditions, especially at pH values lower than their corresponding pKa2. The fluorescence excitation emission matrix and dissolved organic carbon leaching test suggested composted manure has higher fulvic acid organics and that peat soil has higher humus-like organics. Small organic molecules showed stronger affinity toward sulfonamide antibiotics and cause the composted manure to exhibit higher sorption capacity. Overall, this study suggests that the chemical structure and properties of sulfonamides antibiotics and the type of organic matter in soils will greatly influence the fate and transport of these contaminants into the environment.

Livestock manure has been widely used in agriculture to improve soil productivity and quality. However, intensive application can significantly enhance soil nitrogen (N) availability and facilitate ammonia (NH₃) volatilization during rice cultivation. The effects of different rates of manure application on the NH₃ volatilization rate, its mechanism, and their relationships have not been comprehensively investigated. In this study, field trials were conducted to investigate NH₃ volatilization in rice paddy soils amended with different livestock manure, cattle manure (CM), and swine manure (SM), at a rate of 0 (NPK), 10, 20, and 40 Mg ha⁻¹ during cultivation. Moreover, the soil physicochemical and biological properties and rice N uptake were investigated. Ultra-fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) was measured quantitatively and qualitatively. Manure application significantly increased NH₃ emissions compared to the control. Much higher volatilization rates were observed in the SM soils than in the CM soils, even when the same amount of N was applied. This is mainly related to the higher labile NH₄⁺ concentration and urease activity in SM soils. With increasing application levels, NH₃ emission rates proportionally increased in the SM, but there was no significant difference in the CM. Livestock manure application significantly increased NH₃ volatilization, particularly during the initial manure application and additional fertilization stages during rice cultivation. The results showed that the application of livestock manure significantly increased NH₃ volatilization. Moreover, the biochemical properties of manure composts, including labile N and urease activity, mainly affected NH₃ dynamics in rice paddies during cultivation rather than their type. Irrespective of manure application, PM₂.₅, did not show a significant difference at the initial stage of cultivation. NH₃ volatilization was not significantly correlated with the formation of PM₂.₅. It is necessary to develop effective strategies for mitigating NH₃ volatilization and maintaining soil quality without decreasing rice productivity in paddy ecosystems.

In this study, two composting strategies (not turned and turned windrows) of pig slurry solid fraction (SF) were evaluated and compared in terms of their suitability to obtain a composted manure appropriate for further pelletizing (i.e., moisture content <40%). The effect of the two composting strategies on carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) emissions were also investigated.Six identical SF windrows of approximately 4 m3 and 1800 kg were set up outside, on a concrete pad in an open-sided, roofed facility, and composted for a period of 72 days. During the experimental period, three SF windrows were composted unturned (NTW), while the others three SF windrows were turned (TW) six times: at day 7, 16, 28, 35, 50 and 57. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions were measured three times a week for the first 3 weeks and twice per week thereafter for the 72 days of composting. In correspondence of each turning operation, gases emissions rates from TW, were evaluated two times: before and immediately after turning. Due to the production of heat generated during the composting process, high losses of water occurred from both NTW and TW. However, at the end of the trial the average moisture content in composted manure from NTW and from TW resulted, respectively, 46.7% and 34.6%. Therefore, under the specific conditions adopted in this study, composting of pig slurry SF in NTW did not give a suitable product for further pelletizing. In addition, composted manure from NTW resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) lower total nitrogen (2.9% vs 3.4%) and NO3–N (714 mg kg−1 vs 1358 mg kg−1) content. However, in terms of CO2-eq, total gaseous emissions recorded over 72 days of trial from TW (120.4 kg CO2-eq. t−1) were approximately 95% higher as compared to those (64.7 kg CO2-eq. t−1) obtained from NTW.

Different studies have shown that livestock manure has a high potential for fertilization in plant growth and crop yield. However, the main challenge of using animal manure as fertilizer is to increase the risk of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) pollution in soil and water. Because of their adverse effects, these compounds have gained more concern. Farmland applied with manure is considered the primary source of estrogens in the environment. To manage the pollution of EDCs, manure management approaches such as aerobic composting should be utilized to degrade and remove these pollutants. Composting has attracted attention because of its rapid reaction scale and strong degradation ability against the steroidal compounds. However, estrogen removal via traditional composting needs to be improved, as the steroidal compounds that remained in the composted manure could be quickly discharged to the environment because their biodegradation rate is lower than their discharge rate. For that reason, more advanced approaches, such as inoculation with microorganisms, should be involved. Also, applying adsorbent materials such as biochar (BC) and humic acid (HA) should be considered. In the light of the modern studies, affording an overall vision and perspectives about the fate of estrogens during composting is highly valuable. This review was designed to explore the sources, properties, occurrence, half-life, degradation, and transformation of estrogens during animal manure composting. Besides, the efficiency of estrogens degrading microorganisms and adsorbent additives was also reviewed. The eventual remarks were mentioned, and their prospects were discussed.

This study assessed potential bioaccumulation of various trace elements in grasses and earthworms as a consequence of soil incorporation of organic amendments for in situ remediation of an orchard field soil contaminated with organochlorine and Pb pesticide residues. In this experiment, four organic amendments of differing total organic carbon content and quality (two types of composted manure, composted biosolids, and biochar) were added to a contaminated orchard field soil, planted with two types of grasses, and tested for their ability to reduce bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides and metals in earthworms. The experiment was carried out in 4-L soil microcosms in a controlled environment for 90 days. After 45 days of orchardgrass or perennial ryegrass growth, Lumbricus terrestris L. were introduced to the microcosms and exposed to the experimental soils for 45 days before the experiment was ended. Total trace element concentrations in the added organic amendments were below recommended safe levels and their phytoavailablity and earthworm availability remained low during a 90-day bioremediation study. At the end of the experiment, total tissue concentrations of Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn in earthworms and grasses were below recommended safe levels. Total concentrations of Pb in test soil were similar to maximum background levels of Pb recorded in soils in the Eastern USA (100 mg kg⁻¹ d.w.) because of previous application of orchard pesticides. Addition of aged dairy manure compost and presence of grasses was effective in reducing the accumulation of soil-derived Pb in earthworms, thus reducing the risk of soil Pb entry into wildlife food chains.

A wide variety of veterinary antibiotics (VAs) has been detected in environmental water samples, and this is of potential environmental concern due to their adverse effects. In particular, the potential for development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has raised social concerns leading to intensive investigation regarding the influence of antibiotics on human and ecosystem health. One of the main sources of antibiotic effluence to the environment is livestock manures that often contain elevated levels of VAs that survive normal digestive procedures following medication in animal husbandry because unlike human waste, waste generated on farms does not undergo tertiary wastewater treatment, and consequently, the concentration of antibiotics entering the environment is expected to be larger from farming practices. Animal feed is often supplemented with VAs to promote growth and parasite resistance in the medicated animals, and this practice typically resulted in higher use of VAs and consequential excretion from livestock through urine and feces. The excretion rate varied depending on the type of VA used with around 75, 90, and 50–100% being excreted for chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, and tyolsin, respectively. The excreted VAs that initially present in livestock manures were degraded more than 90% when proper composting practice was used, and hence, this can be employed as a management strategy to decrease VA environmental loads. The reduction of VA concentrations during composting was mainly attributed to abiotic processes rather than biotic degradation. The VAs released to soils by the application of manure and manure-based composts can be degraded or inactivated to various degrees through abiotic process such as adsorption to soil components. Depending on the antibiotic species and soil properties, residues can be transferred to groundwater and surface water through leaching and runoff and can potentially be taken up by plants.

Two soils with explosives and metals were evaluated for the degradation efficiency of explosives by native microorganisms under anaerobic conditions. The commercially available method Daramend®, amended with zero-valent iron (ZVI), was compared with a horse-manure-amended compost and a treatment with ZVI alone. In a moderately contaminated soil, Daramend® and ZVI treatment gave significantly higher removal rates compared to compost and control treatments (Tukey's test, P < 0.05). The largest overall decrease in ecotoxicity, measured with bioluminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), was achieved with ZVI treatment. In a more contaminated soil, no degradation of contaminants and no decline in soil toxicity could be distinguished after the same time period. Problems with establishment of anaerobic conditions during parts of the remediation process and low microbial activity due to acute toxicity of contaminants are plausible explanations. Redistribution that could potentially lead to mobilization of the co-contaminant Pb was not observed in either of the soils during the biological treatments.

Manure compost has emerged as a method of soil amendment for phytoremediation of polluted soil by heavy metals. Pot experiments were carried out to study the effects of different dosages of manure compost (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 g/kg compost to soil) on the distribution of Cu and Zn in the rhizosphere soil and the accumulation of them by Brassica juncea during the phytoremediation process. The rhizosphere soil and plant tissues were sampled at 42 days after planting to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the samples by using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. pH value, electrical conductivity, and nutrients (alkaline-N, olsen-P, and olsen-K) increased with the addition of compost. The percentages of exchangeable Cu and residual Cu decreased, while the proportion of other fractions increased with increasing amount of manure compost. The fractions of exchangeable Zn, Fe-Mn oxide-bound Zn, and residual Zn have the same variation tendency as Cu. The variation tendencies of exchangeable Zn, Fe-Mn oxide-bound Zn, and residual Zn are the same as that of Cu. Concentrations of Cu and Zn in the overground and underground parts of B. juncea had a significant increase up to a maximum at 60 g/kg compost and then decreased. Bioaccumulation coefficients reached maximum values of 1.44 and 1.35 in the overground and underground parts of B. juncea at 60 g/kg compost, respectively. The biomass of B. juncea and total metal accumulation in B. juncea increased to the maximum at 60 g/kg compost. Obtained results indicated that appropriate amount of soil amendment is very important aspects for phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil.

The effects of two different biological treatments on hydrocarbon degradation and on soil biological activities were determined during a 100-d incubation period. An evaluation of soil biological activities as a monitoring instrument for the decontamination process of diesel-oil contaminated soil was made using measurements of organic carbon content, soil microbial respiration, soil ATP and dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, lipase enzyme activities. Five samples were used: S (control, uncontaminated soil), CS (contaminated soil), SCS (sterilized contaminated soil), CFS (contaminated soil plus N and P), CCS (contaminated soil plus compost). The relationships between soil parameters and the levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) residues were investigated. Results showed that inorganic nutrients NP and compost stimulated hydrocarbon biodegradation but not all biological activities to a significant extent. The residual hydrocarbon trend was positively related with that of the organic C content, microbial respiration and with β-glucosydase activity, while both soil lipase and dehydrogenase activities were negatively related with the hydrocarbon trend. Lipase activity was found to be the most useful parameter for testing hydrocarbon degradation in soil.

Reports on the occurrence and diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes, which are considered to be emerging pollutants worldwide, have, to date, not been published on South Korean agricultural soils. This is the first study to investigate the persistence of tetracycline (oxytetracycline, tetracycline, and chlortetracycline)-resistant bacterial community and genes in natural and long-term fertilized (NPK, pig, and cattle manure composts) agricultural soils in South Korea. The results showed that oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline could be the dominant residues in animal manures; regular fertilization of manures, particularly pig manures, may be the prime cause for the spread and abundance of tetracycline resistance in South Korean agricultural soils. Both the country’s natural and agricultural soils are reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant species. Of the 113 tetracycline-resistant isolates identified (19 typical bacterial genera and 36 distinct species), approximately 40 to 99 % belonged to Gram-positive bacteria and Bacillus constituted the predominant genera. Of the 24 tet genes targeted, tetG, tetH, tetK, tetY, tetO, tetS, tetW, and tetQ were detected in all soil samples, highlighting their predominance and robust adaptability in soils. Meanwhile, it is suggested that tetC, tetE, tetZ, tetM, tetT, and tetP(B) are the common residues in pig manures, and furthermore, the treatment of soils with pig manures may wield a different impact on the tet gene resistome in agricultural soils. This study thus highlights the necessity for regulating the usage of tetracyclines in South Korean animal farming. This must be followed by proper monitoring of the subsequent usage of animal manures especially that derived from pig farms located in agricultural soils.