The Correlation between Manure Composting Time and the Presence of Escherichia coli on Spinach

Overview

Objectives/Goals The goal of this project is to prove that composting time is needed to kill the e. coli bacteria and also to prove that there is a direct correlation between manure composting time and the presence of e. coli on spinach. Methods/Materials Manure; 5 plant containers; Spinach seeds; Shovel; Soil; Water; Watering can; Latex gloves; Half of a milk carton; 33 Petri dishes; 9.0 g of Agar; 1.5 g of Yeast; 300 mL of distilled water; Microwave; Flask; 33 inoculating loops; Incubator; Freezer. Results For 4 weeks composted: zero e. coli colonies. 3 weeks composted: an average of 2 e. coli colonies. 2 weeks composted: an average of 19 e. coli colonies. 1 week composted: an average of 37 e. coli colonies. Conclusions/Discussion Due to recent events in 2006, e. coli has broken out through the United States.There were 5 containers, each of them were growing spinach. In 4 out of 5 trays cow manure with different composting times (1-4 weeks) was placed onto the spinach early in the experiment. One month later the leaves were tested proving that e. coli dies off between weeks 3 and 4 of composting. With the recent outbreaks in spinach, consumers should be one of the first to know what they might have purchased.

Competition history

• CSEF 2007 Microbiology · Entry S1412

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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