Data from: Biological Soil Amendments Can Support Survival of Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Soils and Sporadic Transfer to Romaine Lettuce

Biological soil amendments are an essential input in organic lettuce production. However, these BSAs can introduce or transfer pathogens like Escherichia coli O157:H7 to lettuce in pre-harvest environments. This study evaluated the effect of BSAs on survival of non-pathogenic and pathogenic E. coli in soils and transfer to lettuce. Romaine lettuce was grown with controlled light, temperature, and relative humidity. Soil was amended (side-dressed) with either heat treated poultry pellets (HTPP), HTPP with corn steep liquor (CSL), seabird guano (SBG), SBG with CSL, or left unamended (UA). Soils were co-inoculated with non-pathogenic, rifampicin-resistant E. coli TVS 353 and two chloramphenicol-resistant E. coli O157:H7 isolates (100 mL of 10⁶ CFU/mL). E. coli survival over 28 days was evaluated. On day 28, Romaine lettuce was harvested, and presence of E. coli was determined.