Use of Spent Mushroom Substrate for Growing Containerized Woody Ornamentals: An Overview

Abstract

There are substantial environmental and economic benefits to be gained by recycling spent mushroom substrate (SMS). Researchers throughout the world have grown many types of crops with SMS but information with ornamental nursery crops is sparse. High salt levels in SMS is largely responsible for its restricted use in agriculture. Investigations showed that many ornamental woody species grew well in 6-liter (2-gal) regular nursery containers amended with different proportions of SMS (33%, 67%, and 100% by volume) mixed with bark. Test species were: cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Coral Beauty’); deutzia (Deutzia gracilis); dogwood (Cornus alba and C. alba ‘Argenteo-marginata’); forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia ‘Lynwood’); juniper (Juniperus sabina ‘Blue Danube’ and J. virginiana ‘Hetzii’); ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius); potentilla (Potentilla fructicosa ‘Red Ace’); privet (Ligustrum vulgare); rose (Rosa ‘John Franklin’); and weigela (Weigela ‘Bristol Ruby’ and W. florida ‘Variegata Nana’). Despite ...