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Long-Term Straw Return Reverses Antibiotic Resistance Accumulation in Maize Rhizosphere through Integrated Soil-Microbial Mechanisms.

PubMed · 2026-05-27

A 25-year field experiment found that returning crop straw to soil after harvest can reverse the buildup of antibiotic-resistant genes in maize roots zones, while relying on chemical fertilizers alone allows that resistance to accumulate over time.

1

Over 25 years, long-term chemical fertilization progressively increased antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factor genes in the maize rhizosphere.

2

Combining chemical fertilizer with straw incorporation reversed the accumulation of ARGs, counteracting the trend seen with fertilizer alone.

3

Metagenomic analysis revealed that shifts in microbial community composition — not just chemistry — were a key mechanism driving the change in resistance gene abundance.

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