Abstract

The presence of antibiotics in Panicum maximum and soil around poultry manure dumping site was investigated. The antibiotics investigated were Penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. P. maximum and soil samples were collected at distance of 0, 30 and 60 m from the dumping site. Qualitatively, these antibiotics were found positive in all the samples. Decreases in values (quantitatively) were observed for penicillin (38.80-18.46×10^-7 µg/kg), streptomycin (20.84-3.86×10^-7µg/kg) and tetracycline (31.58-24.47×10^-7 µg/kg) as the distance increased for the Panicum maximum around Poultry manure dumping site. Similar decrease in penicillin (19.52--12.26×10^-7 µg/kg), tetracycline (20.53-11.19×10^-7 µg/kg) and chloramphenicol (16.89-3.38×10^-7 µg/kg) as the distance increased in soil around poultry manure dumping site were also observed. The pH of the soil collected was between the ranged of 6.10-6.30. The organic matter ranged from 1.91 to 2.38% and organic carbon was also between 1.11 to 1.38%. The study however confirmed that up to 60 m distance from the dumping site antibiotics (tetracycline, chloramphenicol, penicillin, and streptomycin) were present in both P. maximum and soil.

Key words: Panicum maximum, soil, poultry manure, antibiotics.