The Impact of Chicken Manure Biochar on Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Chicken Manure Composting

One way to increase yields in agriculture using organic alternative methods is the introduction of manure-based composts into soil. However, use such carries a risk soil contamination with antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) from gut and manure livestock. The heavy metals or antibiotics can this risk, while addition porous materials, as biochar, has potential decrease it. This study devoted revealing fate ARGs bedding chicken composted oxytetracycline (OTC), metals, biochar. It was revealed that additives did not affect physicochemical parameters compost. bacterial communities different composting mixtures had similar structures dynamics. shifts compositions were mainly determined by duration process. some minor differences OTU (operational taxonomic unit) levels observed between variants. biochar led 26.7% 34.5% decreases, respectively, number tet(A) gene copies, 43.7% increase. copies int1 increased 45.9% after oxytetracycline. correlation abundance ARG contents estimated, biochar’s impact on those OTUs analyzed. assumed might be carriers (such Natronobacillus, Luteimonas, Trichococcus), their presence decreased due competitive exclusion noncarriers Corynebacterium, Clostridia, Halorhodospira). considered reduce final ARGs.