Amending soil with leonardite decreases ciprofloxacin uptake and improves rhizosphere properties of leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.).
Sharifmand M, Sepehr E, Rasouli-Sadaghiani M, Rengel Z
Soil Health
If your vegetable garden sits near farmland where animal waste is used as fertilizer, antibiotic residues may already be in your soil — and this study shows a cheap, natural amendment can stop those residues from moving into your food.
Researchers grew leeks in soil spiked with a common antibiotic called ciprofloxacin, then added different amounts of leonardite — a carbon-rich material that forms naturally from ancient plant matter. The leonardite acted like a sponge, binding the antibiotic in the soil so the leeks couldn't absorb as much of it. As a bonus, the treated soil came alive with more bacteria and enzyme activity, and the leeks themselves produced more health-promoting antioxidants.
Key Findings
Ciprofloxacin contamination reduced leek shoot height by 18% and stem diameter by 48%; leonardite application significantly lowered the concentration of the antibiotic in plant shoots.
Adding 50 g/kg leonardite to clean soil increased leeks' total phenols by 46%, flavonoid content by 73%, and DPPH antioxidant activity by 38%.
In antibiotic-contaminated soil, the highest leonardite dose (50 g/kg) increased soil microbial abundance 2.8×, respiration 3.1×, and urease enzyme activity 3.4× compared to unamended contaminated soil.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Adding leonardite (a natural, coal-derived organic material) to antibiotic-contaminated soil significantly reduced the amount of ciprofloxacin absorbed by leek plants, while also boosting soil microbial life and improving the plants' antioxidant content.
Abstract Preview
The overuse of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine has led to soil and water contamination, posing a significant threat to environmental and human health. This study investigated the effec...
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A leek is a biennial vegetable, a cultivar of Allium ampeloprasum, the broadleaf wild leek. The edible part of the plant is a bundle of leaf sheaths that is sometimes colloquially called a "stem" or "stalk".