Occurrence of pathogens in soils and plants in a long-term field study regularly amended with different composts and manure

The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential microbial contamination of soil and crops (maize and wheat) after compost or manure application using realistic agricultural practices, in a long-term field experiment. The field experiment, located at Feucherolles in France, 35 km west of Paris and started in 1998, consists of 5 organic treatments: soil amended with a biowaste compost (BIO), a municipal solid waste compost (MSW), a green waste and sewage sludge compost (GWS) and a farmyard manure (FYM) as the reference amendment, and non-amended soil as the control. Pathogens and indicators of composting treatment efficiency (Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, helminths eggs, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus) were monitored as defined in the French compost standards.