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Background and aims <p>Slumgum, a by-product of the beeswax-rendering process, is a nutrient-rich organic waste with potential as a sustainable fertiliser. Unlike chemical fertilisers, which can degrade soil health and contribute to environmental pollution, slumgum may improve soil structure, enhance microbial activity, and support long-term soil fertility. This study assessed, for the first time, the effects of both solid and liquid slumgum, either transformed with <i>Penicillium chrysogenum</i> and non-transformed, on purslane (<i>Portulaca oleracea</i>) biomass and soil rhizosphere microbial communities.</p> Methods <p>The experiment involved applying different slumgum treatments to purslane plants, followed by the analysis of shoot biomass and foliar phosphorous content. Soil enzymatic activities related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles were measured. Additionally, bacterial and fungal community composition, diversity, and functional guilds in the rhizosphere were described.</p> Results <p>Both transformed solid and liquid slumgum along with untransformed liquid slumgum treatments increased purslane shoot biomass (by 60–77%) and foliar phosphorous content (by 87–100%) compared to the control. Slumgum treatments modified the microbial community composition, increasing saprotrophic fungi and reducing plant pathogens. Transformed solid slumgum also enhanced enzymatic activities involved in nutrient cycling, whereas the untransformed solid slumgum treatment promoted bacterial genes associated with denitrification.</p> Conclusion <p>Our findings highlight the potential of slumgum, particularly in its transformed forms, as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers. Its application may improve soil fertility and crop productivity while reducing environmental impact. Further studies should investigate its long-term effects under field conditions and evaluate its economic feasibility.</p>

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Response of Portulaca oleracea biomass and its rhizospheric microbiome to the application of solid and liquid slumgum from beekeeping industry transformed with Penicillium chrysogenum

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月25日

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  • Ángel Carrascosa-Robles,
  • José Antonio Pascual,
  • Jessica Cuartero,
  • Inmaculada García-Romera,
  • Gloria Andrea Silva-Castro,
  • Ana de Santiago,
  • Margarita Ros,
  • Spyridon A. Petropoulos,
  • María del Mar Alguacil

摘要

Background and aims

Slumgum, a by-product of the beeswax-rendering process, is a nutrient-rich organic waste with potential as a sustainable fertiliser. Unlike chemical fertilisers, which can degrade soil health and contribute to environmental pollution, slumgum may improve soil structure, enhance microbial activity, and support long-term soil fertility. This study assessed, for the first time, the effects of both solid and liquid slumgum, either transformed with Penicillium chrysogenum and non-transformed, on purslane (Portulaca oleracea) biomass and soil rhizosphere microbial communities.

Methods

The experiment involved applying different slumgum treatments to purslane plants, followed by the analysis of shoot biomass and foliar phosphorous content. Soil enzymatic activities related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles were measured. Additionally, bacterial and fungal community composition, diversity, and functional guilds in the rhizosphere were described.

Results

Both transformed solid and liquid slumgum along with untransformed liquid slumgum treatments increased purslane shoot biomass (by 60–77%) and foliar phosphorous content (by 87–100%) compared to the control. Slumgum treatments modified the microbial community composition, increasing saprotrophic fungi and reducing plant pathogens. Transformed solid slumgum also enhanced enzymatic activities involved in nutrient cycling, whereas the untransformed solid slumgum treatment promoted bacterial genes associated with denitrification.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the potential of slumgum, particularly in its transformed forms, as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers. Its application may improve soil fertility and crop productivity while reducing environmental impact. Further studies should investigate its long-term effects under field conditions and evaluate its economic feasibility.