The influence of ram horn hydrolyzate on the crop yield of the mushroom Agaricus bisporus

Abstract

Experiments were performed to determine the effect of spraying ram horn hydrolyzate (RHH) onto casing soil on the yield of fruit bodies of Agaricus bisporus. First, horns were ground, and 35 g of the horn flour was hydrolyzed chemically. As a result of this process, 30 g of the 35 g horn flour could be hydrolyzed. Hydrolyzed material was completed to 400 ml with deionized water, and this resulting solution was termed RHH. The contents of protein, nitrogen, ash, some minerals, total sugars, total lipids and amino acids of RHH were determined. The effects of different concentrations (1–7%, v/v) of RHH on the crop yield of A. bisporus were investigated. The results showed that spraying RHH solution at casing and between flushes could significantly increase the mushroom yield. An optimum effect was found at a concentration of 2%, above this concentration even a reduction in yield was found. When spraying 5000 ml of 2% RHH onto each tray (0.94 m 2), increases in mushroom yield of 38% were obtained. No significant differences were found neither the dry matter contents nor in the protein contents of fruit bodies among treatments ( p<0.01). The mechanisms of mushroom yield increase resulting from spraying 2% RHH were discussed.