Impacts of Yield, Nutritional Value, and Amino Acid Contents during Short-Term Composting for the Substrate for Agrocybe aegerita

Abstract

This investigation aimed to ascertain the efficacy of korshinsk peashrub as a viable substitute for cottonseed hull in the cultivation substrate of Agrocybe aegerita. The study incorporated korshinsk peashrub into the growth medium at incremental concentrations of 20%, 40%, and 60%, and subjected these blends to both fermentation and non-fermentation processes. Through rigorous assessment of yield of fruiting bodies, biological efficiency, nutrient profile, amino acid composition, and the integration of ecological and socio-economic advantages, an optimal substrate formulation was discerned. The findings revealed that the fermentation substrate FT2, with 40% korshinsk peashrub supplanting cottonseed hull, emerged as the superior blend following a comprehensive analysis. This formula notably yielded the highest crude protein and polysaccharide contents at 26.60% and 4.46%, respectively—an increase of 4.51% and 12.34% over the control. Consequently, these results suggest that korshinsk peashrub is a promising, cost-effective, and efficacious additive, capable of enhancing the yield and quality of A. aegerita and potentially replacing cottonseed hull extensively.