Biogas Slurry Found to Act as a "Microbial Gatekeeper" to Reduce Risk of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Soil-Lettuce System

Strategic Insights -

Research from the Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences has found that biogas slurry can act as a "microbial gatekeeper" to lower the risk of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spreading in soil-lettuce systems. The study, which evaluated the impacts of various products at different stages of organic fertilizer production on ARGs in soil-lettuce systems, found that biogas slurry and biogas residue treatments had the lowest relative abundance of ARGs in all treatments. The research also found that different products at various production stages have varying effects on ARGs spreading in soil-plant systems.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that biogas slurry treatment (BS) had the lowest relative abundance of ARGs in all treatments, with values in root, inner leaf, and outer leaf being 0.07, 0.03, and 0.08 copies/16S rRNA gene copies, respectively.
  • Biogas residue treatment (BR) also suppressed ARGs in aerial parts (inner and outer leaves) of BS, flooded with biogas slurry (BSF), and BR treatments.
  • The study found that the relative abundance of ARGs in cow manure treatment (CM) and organic fertilizer treatment (OF) were reduced in soil (52.94% and 41.18%, respectively) compared to the control group (CK).
  • The research concluded that biogas slurry and biogas residue may be good at controlling ARGs spreading and provide guidance for waste treatment and agricultural production.
  • The study was supported by the Youth Fund Project of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Team Promotion Project of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, and National Key Research & Development Program of China.

Statistics:

  • The relative abundance of ARGs in cow manure treatment (CM) and organic fertilizer treatment (OF) were reduced in soil by 52.94% and 41.18%, respectively, compared to the control group.
  • Biogas slurry treatment (BS) had the lowest relative abundance of ARGs in all treatments, with values in root, inner leaf, and outer leaf being 0.07, 0.03, and 0.08 copies/16S rRNA gene copies, respectively.
  • The study found that the relative abundance of ARGs in biogas residue treatment (BR) was suppressed in aerial parts (inner and outer leaves) of BS, BSF, and BR treatments.

Sources:

  • Biogas Slurry Acts As a "microbial Gatekeeper" To Lower the Spread Risk of Antibiotic Resistance Genes In Soil-lettuce System. Applied Soil Ecology, 2025;212.
  • Xiang Zhao, Yazhan Ren, Qinping Sun, Yufei Li, Junxiang Xu, Qianqian Lang, and Jijin Li. "Biogas Slurry Acts As a 'Microbial Gatekeeper' To Lower the Spread Risk of Antibiotic Resistance Genes In Soil-Lettuce System." Applied Soil Ecology, 2025;212.
  • Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. "Press Release: Biogas Slurry Acts As a 'Microbial Gatekeeper' To Lower the Spread Risk of Antibiotic Resistance Genes In Soil-Lettuce System." August 10, 2025.