Characterization of beekeeping wastes for using in seedling production

Abstract

In the present work, different strategies for the utilization of an organic beekeeping waste called «slumgum» were analysed. Slumgum appears in the beeswax-rendering process. A physico-chemical characterization was carried out and the hypothesis that slumgum could be used as nutrient source and growth substrate constituent for seedling production was tested. Analyses revealed that slumgum has an important potential for fertilization: 6.10% N, 0.23% P and 0.4% K, with a total organic matter average content of 78.63%. Also, some disadvantages such as an overly acid pH and high electrical conductivity were found. Assays of seedling production were carried out for two years and lettuce and pepper were used as model crops. Treatments were performed mixing different slumgum formats [minced slumgum (MS), slumgumgypsum granules (SG) and slumgum-superphosphate granules (SC)] with peat (Pe): 25MS-75Pe (in %), 33MS-67Pe, 25SG-75Pe, 33SG-67Pe, 25SC-75Pe and 33SC-67Pe. Controls were no fertilized peat, organic and mineral commercial fertilizers. The best results for lettuce and pepper leaf area, shoot dry weight, and N percentage in leaf were obtained when treatment 25MS-75Pe was applied. Moreover for treatments 25SG-75Pe, no significant differences were observed with respect to the controls in seedbed parameters. Important reductions in emergence and seedling production were detected with SC, most probably due to their high acidity. Results suggest that MS (25MS-75Pe and 33MS-67Pe) and 25SG-75Pe offer a relevant nutritional potential and their high organic matter contents allow them to be considered as organic fertilizers.Additional key words: compost, fertilizer, granulation, organic matter, organic residues, slumgum. Resumen Caracterización de residuos de industrias apícolas para su utilización en la producción de plantelesEn este trabajo se analizaron diferentes estrategias para la utilización de un residuo orgánico de la industria apíco-la llamado «carozo», que se obtiene del proceso de extracción de cera. Se realizó una caracterización físico-química del residuo y se contrastó la hipótesis de que podría utilizarse como fuente de nutrientes y constituyente de sustratos para la producción de planteles hortícolas. Los análisis revelaron un importante potencial como fertilizante: 6,10% nitrógeno, 0,23% fósforo y 0,42% potasio, con contenido medio en materia orgánica del 78,63%. No obstante, presentó como inconvenientes un pH ácido y elevada conductividad eléctrica. Se realizaron, durante dos años, ensayos de producción de plantel eligiendo lechuga y pimiento como modelos. Los tratamientos fueron formulados mezclando distintos formatos de carozo [carozo picado (MS), gránulos yeso-carozo (SG) y gránulos superfosfato-carozo (SC)] con turba (Pe): 25MS-75Pe (en %), 33MS-67Pe, 25SG-75Pe, 33SG-67Pe, 25SC-75Pe y 33SC-67Pe. Los controles fueron turba sin fertilizar y dos fertilizantes, orgánico y mineral, comerciales. Los mejores resultados en ambos cultivos para área foliar, peso seco de parte aérea y porcentaje de nitróge...

Honeybee Nests

“…Before introducing this topic, it is often important to identify and separate pure beeswax from contaminant resins, such as slumgum, which occur in beeswax samples (Grout 1946;Morales-Corts et al 2010). It was recently reported that waxes and contaminating resins can readily be identified by differential scanning calorimetry (Zhang et al 2012).…”

Optimization of Pt(II) and Pt(IV) Adsorption from a Water Solution on Biochar Originating from Honeycomb Biomass

“…The production of the biochar from honeycomb biomass can partially solve this problem. Moreover, the organics present in this biomass can be the source of heteroatoms (O, N), being the selective active species toward Pt on the surface of the made biochar [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Response of Portulaca olearacea and its rhizospheric microbiome to the application of slumgum from beekeeping industry transformed with Penicillium chrysogenum

“…It is primarily composed of brood cocoons, moths, larvae of Galleria melonella L., molts, dead bees, bee droppings, pollen, propolis, and small proportions of non-extractable wax, among other elements. Usually, it is stored outdoors and currently has neither has any particular use nor it is recycled (Morales-Corts et al 2010. The worldwide production of slumgum is estimated to 93,000 tons per year (FAOSTAT 2020).…”