Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Spent Mushroom Substrates of Different Mushroom Species

Abstract

The production of different mushroom species in the world and Turkey, and the amount of spent mushroom substrate remaining after mushroom production process increase year by year. Mushroom substrates released in large quantities are removed from the enterprises by burning, discarding, or incorporating into the soil in agricultural areas. These practices are not economical for the enterprises and cause some serious environmental pollution problems. However, the spent mushroom substrate is a material that could be included the economy by reusing in many different fields. The composition of the spent mushroom substrate varies depending on produced mushroom species and also the materials used in compost preparation. Therefore, determining the properties of spent mushroom substrates is of great importance. In this study, some physical, chemical and biological properties of spent mushroom substrates obtained from the production of different mushroom species (Agaricus bisporus, Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivated in Turkey have been determined and compared with peat and standard media in terms of these properties. Statistically significant differences were determined among spent mushroom substrates and peat and standard media in terms of all examined properties. EC, organic matter, C, C:N rate, water holding capacity, microbial biomass carbon, arylsulphatase activity of spent mushroom substrate had been found significantly higher than that of peat and standard media. Results of EC, pH, C:N rate and phytotoxicity experiment revealed that fresh spent mushroom substrates taken just after mushroom production process did not have matured compost properties.