5. Conclusions
This research revealed the effects of organic fertilizers application on E. coliO157:H7 survival in agricultural soils. Soil pH, EC
and Fe/Al (hydro) oxides were important factors controlling the
E. coliO157:H7 survival in original soils without fertilizer amendment. With fertilizer-amended soils, soil EC, pH, WSOC and NO3
−-N
content were the most important regulating factors, with EC as
the most important one. Organic fertilizer application, particularly
pig manure, showed great positive effects onE. coliO157:H7 survival in acidic soils. Hence, special attention should be paid to the
latent eco-environment risk ofE. coliO157:H7 in agricultural fields
amended with organic fertilizer, especially those containing pig
manure in acidic soils