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Effect of Type of Mulch on Microbial Food Safety Risk on Cucumbers Irrigated with Contaminated Water

Effect of Type of Mulch on Microbial Food Safety Risk on Cucumbers Irrigated with Contaminated Water

Authors :
Juan Moreira
Kevin McCarter
Julysa Abril Benitez
Kathryn Fontenot
Joan M. King
Achyut Adhikari
Source :
Journal of Food Protection, Vol 86, Iss 11, Pp 100164- (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2023.

Abstract

Mulches are used to block light and retain soil moisture which may affect the survival of bacterial pathogens on soil. This study examined the effectiveness of different types of mulches to minimize microbial risk from contaminated water used for irrigation of cucumbers. A production bed of 120 ft2 with 18 beds (30 ft long) covered with five different types of mulch (paper, paper with fertilizer incorporated (PF), maize-based mulch, biodegradable plastic covering, and conventional plastic) including three beds with no cover was planted with Dasher 2 Variety cucumber. Soil samples from each bed were collected for the first five weeks to examine natural E. coli and coliforms. Well water contaminated with or without nalidixic acid-resistant mutant of E. coli (8 Log CFU/mL) was used for drip irrigation for 7 days before harvesting. Prior to irrigation with contaminated water, naturally present E. coli and coliform in the soil samples with or without mulch were in the range of 3.45–3.78 Log CFU/g and 4.18–5.31 Log CFU/g, respectively. E. coli levels on cucumbers harvested from mulched beds and irrigated with contaminated irrigation water had significantly higher (P 1.17 Log CFU/cm2) and >1.38 Log CFU/cm2 after 4 days. Beds with maize mulch were effective on minimizing E. coli contamination on cucumber from contaminated irrigation water.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0362028X
Volume :
86
Issue :
11
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.bd7b4d9431334024aeb14dd2ded0de2b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100164