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Intense use of antibiotics in agricultural production may lead to the contamination of surface and groundwater by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, the survival and leaching of E. coli and tetracycline-resistant bacteria were monitored at two well-structured agricultural fields. Non-spiked pig slurry was injected in accordance with agricultural practice in the area.

In both fields, the concentration of E. coli and tetracycline-resistant bacteria in the injected part of the plough layer decreased to the detection limit within 46–49 days. At Silstrup, the decay was initiated with a lag phase and a decimal reduction time of 16 days for E. coli and 18 days for tetracycline-resistant bacteria. At Estrup, the decay was immediate and the decimal reduction time was 22 days for E. coli and 26 days for tetracycline-resistant bacteria.

Despite the two fields being prone to rapid preferential transport through macropores, it was found …