Enhanced Production of Agaricus bisporus Using Non-Composted Substrate in the Presence of Delayed-Release Supplements and Control Agents for Water Release

Abstract

Non-composted substrates composed of commercial grain spawn and delayed-release nutrient supplements were tested for mushroom production as alternatives to the environmentally problematic composting process associated with conventional commercial mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation. The effect of casing type, thiophanate-methyl (fungicide) use, delayed-release supplement type (S41 and S44) and level, and perlite addition were tested on mushroom production. Use of a non-sterile casing overlain on grain spawn/supplement substrate produced mushrooms comparable to a steam-treated casing with 25% activated carbon, yielding 6.4 and 7.6 kg m-2, respectively. Thiophanate-methyl severely reduced mushroom yield when used. Average mushroom yield from treatments with S41 supplement was greater than that of S44, and when commercial grain spawn substrate was underlain with a layer of perlite (2000 mL over 0.048 m2) to absorb and release excess water, mushroom yield increased two-fold, producing 13 kg m-2, compared to 7.6 kg m-2 for treatments without perlite.