title: Vegetable Contamination by the Fecal Bacteria of Poultry Manure: Case Study of Gardening Sites in Southern Benin.
abstract: A study was conducted in southern Benin to assess the contamination of vegetables by fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and fecal streptococci as one consequence of the intensification of vegetable cropping through fertilization with poultry manure. For this purpose, on-farm trials were conducted in 2009 and 2010 at Yodo-Condji and Ayi-Guinnou with three replications and four fertilization treatments including poultry manure and three vegetable crops (leafy eggplant, tomato, and carrot). Sampling, laboratory analyses, and counts of fecal bacteria in the samples were performed in different cropping seasons. Whatever the fertilization treatment, the logs of mean fecal bacteria count per g of fresh vegetables were variable but higher than AFNOR criteria. The counts ranged from 8 to 10 fecal coliforms, from 5 to 8 fecal streptococci, and from 2 to 6 Escherichia coli, whereas AFNOR criteria are, respectively, 0, 1, and 0. The long traditional use of poultry manure and its use during the study helped obtain this high population of fecal pathogens. Results confirmed that the contamination of vegetables by fecal bacteria is mainly due to the use of poultry manure. The use of properly composted poultry manure with innovative cropping techniques should help reduce the number and incidence of pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Séraphin C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Atidégla
authors.affiliation: CIRAD UPR HortSys, 34498 Montpellier Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huat
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Euloge K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Agbossou
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UPR Recyclage et Risque, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saint-Macary
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Glèlè Kakai