Urban soils often contain chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals or trace amounts of antibiotics, along with higher levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. New research from the University of Maryland suggests that, in some cases, boosting urban soil health with compost and treated manure may reduce the amount of “bad” bacteria. Understanding these dynamics has important implications for improving the quality and safety of fresh produce in urban agriculture.
Could manure and compost act like probiotics, reducing antibiotic resistance in urban soils?
