Spent Mushroom Compost Application Research Articles

Yield Potentiality and Economic Profitability as Influenced by Conjoint Application of Spent Mushroom Compost, Biofertilizers and Mono Potassium Phosphate (MKP) in Marigold

The present investigation was carried out under open field conditions during the year 2018-19 to ascertain the influence of spent mushroom compost, biofertilizers and foliar application of water soluble fertilizer, Mono Potassium Phosphate (MKP) on flower yield and economics of French marigold ‘Local’. The results revealed that the overall cost of cultivation as well as the economics of marigold flower production was significantly influenced by various Integrated nutrient management (INM) schedules. French marigold ‘Local’ plants supplied with 75% RDF + Spent mushroom compost (1 kg/m2) + Biofertilizers + 1% foliar spray of MKP (00:52:34) produced maximum yield of saleable flowers (25000 Kg/ha) followed by 75% RDF + Biofertilizers + 1% foliar spray of MKP (23000 Kg/ha) which was significantly superior over the 100% RDF recording 20000 Kg/ha flower yield. Both the above mentioned treatments also recorded maximum net returns of Rs.339171.60/ha. The highest benefit : cost (B: C) ratio of 2.81 was recorded with the treatment 75% RDF + Biofertilizers + 1% foliar spray of MKP.

Nutrient Status and Yield of French marigold as Influenced by Application of Spent Mushroom Compost, Biofertilizer and MKP Foliar Application

An experiment was carried out in open field condition during the year 2018-19 to ascertain the effect of spent mushroom compost, biofertilizers and MKP foliar application on nutrient status, yield and profitability of French marigold. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) and comprised of twenty three treatments replicated thrice. The highest available soil nitrogen content (259.95 Kg/ha), available soil P (33.23 Kg/ha) and available soil potassium content (244.60 Kg/ha) was recorded with Control (100% RDF).Maximum total leaf nitrogen (1.367%), leaf phosphorus (0.433%) and leaf potassium content (1.88%) was recorded with treatment 75% RDF + spent mushroom compost + biofertilizers + 1% foliar spray of MKP (T9) whereas, the lowest total leaf nitrogen content (1.103%), leaf phosphorus content (0.313%) and total leaf K (1.33 %) was recorded with no fertilizer application (Farmers practice). Plants treated with 75% RDF + Biofertilizers + 1% foliar spray of MKP (T8) recorded the highest benefit cost ratio (2.81:1) closely followed by benefit cost ratio of 2.54 in 100% RDF whereas lowest benefit cost ratio (0.36:1) was recorded in the treatment T17 comprising 25 % RDF + Spent mushroom compost (1 kg/m2).Highest chlorophyll content (48.89%) was recorded with T8.

ALTERNATIVE SUBSTRATE USE IN SAGE TRANSPLANTS PRODUCTION (SALVIA OFFICINALIS L.)

Mushroom production has become more popular in our environment. The most common cultivated mushroom is Agaricus bisporus. After mushrooms are harvested a large amount of used compost remains. This compost is a good material and producers used it as alternative substrate in plant production. The benefits of this compost are numerous like high content of organic matter and the rich mineral composition. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the use of spent mushroom compost (as alternative substrate) on growth and development of roots and above-ground parts of sage transplants (Salvia officinalis L.). Measurements of morphological parameters of plants (plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and plant diameter) were performed, as well as determination of fresh and dry weight of roots and above-ground parts of transplants. Application of spent mushroom substrate in the production of sage Salvia officinalis L. positively influenced growth and development as well as fresh and dry weight of roots and above-ground parts of treated plants compared to nontreated plants during transplanting growing stage. Plant height (+104%), number of leaves (+65%), number of branches (+143%), plant diameter (89%), were significantly increased by the spent mushroom compost application compared to the control - commercial substrate.

Removal of Organic UV Filters Using Enzymes in Spent Mushroom Composts from Fungicultures

Organic UV filters in sunscreen products are released to aquatic ecosystems through human recreational activities and urban wastewater treatment plant effluents. The biodegradation of three organic UV filters, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS), homosalate (HMS) and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), which cannot be effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants, was investigated in this study. Spent mushroom compost (SMC), a waste product of the mushroom industry, which contains white-rot fungus extracellular enzymes, was tested for its ability to remove the three organic UV filters. The results of batch experiments revealed that the SMC enzyme extract of Pleurotus djamor exhibited the highest ability for EHS and HMS removal. The results of bioreactor experiments indicated that direct application of SMCs may be a feasible solution to remove EHS and HMS from urban wastewater. The application of SMCs for the removal of organic UV filters can be developed into a green and sustainable technology.

Effect of organic fertilizers on nutrients content and essential oil composition of savory (Satureja hortensis L.)

abstractApplication of organic fertilizers in the production of these plants to eliminate or substantially reduce the use of chemical inputs and improve the growth and quality of plants. For instance, in present study the effect of vermicompost and spent mushroom compost application on nutritional status and essential oil components of summer Savory (Satureja hortensis L.) was investigated.This experiment was conducted in research greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture at Mohaghegh Ardabili University in layout of completely randomized design with five replications on Savory in 2014. Experimental treatments included different substrates contain vermicompost, washed and unwashed spent mushroom compost in five levels (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Percent v/v). After flowering, plants were harvested and parameters such as leaf area, leaf and plant dry weight, chlorophyll index of leaf and N, P, K, and Ca content and essential oil component of plants were measured.The results showed that the effect of organic substrates on macronutrient content and growth parameters of savory were significant. The highest Nitrogen content (6.3%) and Phosphorus (0.98%) in shoot of savory was obtained in substrate supplemented with 40% vermicompost. Plants grown in the media containing 30% of vermicompost and 50% washed spent mushroom compost (SMC) have higher potassium (3.19%) and calcium (2.48%) content, respectively. The lowest nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in the aerial part was obtained in the control treatment. Moreover, application of organic fertilizers significantly affected on essential oil percent and composition compounds of savory. The highest and lowest essential oil content were obtained in plants in substrates containing 30 % of vermicompost and unwashed spent mushroom compost respectively. Main components of essential oil were carvacrol and gamma- trepenine. The highest level of carvacrol (62.10) and gamma-trepenine (32.05) were obtained in plants in substrate containing 40 and 20 % of washed spent mushroom respectively.

Effects of spent mushroom compost application on the physicochemical properties of a degraded soil

Abstract. Under field and laboratory conditions, the application of organic amendments has generally shown an improvement in soil physicochemical properties. Here, spent mushroom compost (SMC) is proposed as a suitable organic amendment for soil structure restoration. Our study assessed the impact of SMC on the physicochemical properties of a weak-structured and physically degraded soil. The approach involved the establishment of a pot experiment with SMC applications into soil (control, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 %). Soils were incubated at field capacity (−33 kPa) for 21, 42, and 62 days under laboratory conditions. SMC applications into the soil significantly increased the aggregate stability (AS) and decreased the modulus of rupture. The application of SMC at rates of 1, 2, 4, and 8 % significantly increased the total nitrogen and soil organic carbon contents of the degraded soil at all incubation periods (p < 0.05). The results obtained in this study indicate that the application of SMC can improve soil physicochemical properties, which may benefit farmers, land managers, and mushroom growers.

Investigation of the potential use of recycling spent mushroom compost as Marigold (Calendula officinalis) bedding medium

ABSTRACTA greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different culture media on plantlet emergence, vegetative and generative traits of Marigold (Calendula officinalis) in randomized complete block design with ten treatments and three replications. The treatments were consisted of spent mushroom compost (SMC), alluvium soil (AS), garden soil (GS), SMC + AS (2:1), SMC + GS (2:1), SMC + AS (1:2), SMC + GS (1:2), AS + GS (2:1), GS + AS (2:1) and SMC + AS + GS (1:1:1). The results showed that application of SMC had positive effects on the vase life of flower and the number of days from the first bloom appearance. The vase life of flower was the highest (17.4 days) in the media containing SMC alone and the shortest (12.3 days) in media containing SMC + AS (1:2). However, mixture of SMC with AS or GS had significant positive effects on the evaluated traits. Generally, AS, SMC + AS or GS (2:1) and GS treatments had a better situation than other media.

Effects of sugar cane bagasse biochar and spent mushroom compost on phosphorus fractionation in calcareous soils

In the present study we investigated the effects of using sugar cane bagasse biochar and spent mushroom compost (SMC) on different fractions of phosphorus and plant availability in three calcareous soils with a loam, clay loam and sandy loam texture. The incubation experiment was performed using a completely randomised design, with five treatments (B1 and B2 (15 and 30 t biochar ha–1 respectively), SMC1 and SMC2 (20 and 40 t SMC ha–1 respectively) and C (control)) and three incubation periods (14, 60 and 120 days) over three replicates. The different P fractions evaluated in the soil were Olsen P, dicalcium phosphate (Ca2-P), octacalcium phosphate (Ca8-P), aluminium phosphate (Al-P), iron phosphate, occluded phosphate and apatite. Application of SMC at both levels increased Olsen P, whereas biochar application was less effective. SMC2 increased Olsen P by 473%, 227% and 89% in clay loam, loam and sandy loam soils respectively. In addition, for all soils and all incubation times, SMC1 and SMC2 significantly increased Ca2-P compared with C, which had an increasing trend with time, but biochar only increased Ca2-P significantly in sandy loam soil. SMC2 also increased Ca8-P and Al-P at 120 days. In conclusion, application of SMC can enhance plant-available P and affect P fractions and distribution, with the degree of the increase being soil specific. In contrast, the effects of biochar on P availability, fractions and distribution need more time to become apparent.

Nutrient conservation during spent mushroom compost application using spent mushroom substrate derived biochar

Spent mushroom compost (SMC), a spent mushroom substrate (SMS) derived compost, is always applied to agriculture land to enhance soil organic matter and nutrient contents. However, nitrogen, phosphate and organic matter contained in SMC can leach out and contaminate ground water during its application. In this study, biochars prepared under different pyrolytic temperatures (550 °C, 650 °C or 750 °C) from SMS were applied to soil as a nutrient conservation strategy. The resultant biochars were characterized for physical and mineralogical properties. Surface area and pore volume of biochars increased as temperature increased, while pore size decreased with increasing temperature. Calcite and quartz were evidenced by X-ray diffraction analysis in all biochars produced. Results of column leaching test suggested that mixed treatment of SMC and SMS-750-800 (prepared with the temperature for pyrolysis and activation was chosen as 750 °C and 800 °C, respectively) could reduce 43% of TN and 66% of CODCr in leachate as compared to chemical fertilizers and SMC, respectively. Furthermore, increasing dosage of SMS-750-800 from 1% to 5% would lead to 54% CODCr reduction in leachate, which confirmed its nutrient retention capability. Findings from this study suggested that combined application of SMC and SMS-based biochar was an applicable strategy for reducing TN and CODCr leaching.

Release characteristics and control of nitrogen, phosphate, organic matter from spent mushroom compost amended soil in a column experiment

Spent mushroom compost (SMC) is a co-product of edible mushroom which contains abundant nutrients including organics, nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). This study is related to the release potential of nitrogen, phosphate and organic matter from SMC amended soil in column-based experiments. Results showed that due to SMC application, NH4+–N and NO3−–N concentrations in leachate decreased by 92.5% and 76.3%, respectively, while EC and CODCr concentrations increased by 84.2% and 481.9%, respectively, as compared to chemical fertilizers. Moreover, a minor loss of TNcum (65%) and TPcum (almost equal value) exhibited good nutrient retention capacity. Leaching test results demonstrated that the mixed application of SMC and chemical fertilizers could alleviate excessive CODCr level in SMC leachate. The release process of nutrients in SMC amended soil could be described by first/first order mixed model, indicating that nutrients leached from SMC follow a two-stage pattern.

Spent mushroom compost as substrate for the production of industrially important hydrolytic enzymes by fungi Trichoderma spp. and Aspergillus niger in solid state fermentation

Mushroom production is the biggest solid state fermentation industry in the world. Disposal and storage of spent mushroom compost (SMC) that remains after mushroom harvest poses a big economic and environmental problem. Production of industrially important hydrolytic enzymes by fungi on various agro-industrial wastes is a significant, open chapter in biotechnology. This paper proposes a novel application of SMC as substrate for cultivation of fungi in solid state fermentation (SSF) in order to obtain the enzymes cellulase, xylanase, amylase and β-glucosidase. SMC can be used as a good substrate for cultivation of Trichoderma and Aspergillus without the addition of supplementary (nutritive) elements. Starting amount of SMC was reduced by 30% due to hydrolysis by a complex of cellulolytic enzymes. Material that is left behind is a more suitable fertilizer for horticulture. One fungal isolate was pointed out as a promising producer (Trichoderma atroviride isolate T42). It produced the greatest amount of total protein (0.204 mg mL−1), five isoforms of β-glucosidase and the highest level (12 isoforms) of both endocellulase (0.76 U mL−1) and xylanase (2.31 U mL−1). The capacity of T42 to produce all examined enzymes in such a high number of isoforms demonstrates successful adaptation to new substrates.

Spent mushroom compost as a nitrogen source for spring barley

Spent mushroom compost (SMC) contains a range of plant nutrients, including nitrogen (N), a large proportion of which originate from arable crops. Using SMC as an organic fertilizer for crops recycles these nutrients. Effective use of SMC in fertilizer regimes requires knowledge of the nitrogen fertilizer value (NFV) of the SMC, which is the amount of mineral fertilizer N required to give the same N yield, or marketable yield, as an application of SMC. The objectives of these experiments were to evaluate the effect of SMC on spring barley grain yield and quality and to determine its NFV. Experiments were carried out on two soils, light- and medium-textured, over 3 years (2008–2010). The experiments compared the yield response and N uptake of spring barley to fertilizer N with and without SMC. SMC application gave similar or higher grain yield and N uptake compared to fertilizer only treatments at corresponding fertilizer N rates. SMC had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the economic optimum fertilizer N rate but the maximum yield was significantly (P < 0.05) higher where SMC was applied in two of the six experiments. Effects of SMC on grain quality were small. Results indicated that the NFV, expressed as a proportion of the total N applied in SMC, ranged from 0.05 to 0.29 kg kg−1 N applied in SMC, with a mean of 0.15 kg kg−1. It is concluded that SMC can contribute to the nitrogen nutrition of small grain cereal crops in high yield potential environments.

Effect of Spent Mushroom Compost of Pleurotus pulmonarius on Growth Performance of Four Nigerian Vegetables

Spent mushroom compost (SMC) of Pleurotus pulmonarius (an edible fungus) was used as soil conditioner for the improvement of growth of four common Nigerian vegetables (Abelmoschus esculentus, Lycopersicum esculentum, Capsicum annum and Capsicum chinense). The results of these investigations showed that the vegetables responded well to the SMC treatment. Each of them attained its best growth and gave the highest number of flowers and fruits when planted on 6 kg of depleted garden soil supplemented with 600 g of SMC. The control experiment that has the seedlings of the vegetables planted on 6 kg of depleted garden soil only, without the application of SMC, showed stunted and poor growth, with few or no flower and fruit production. A. esculentus was the best utilizer of iron utilizing 118.0 mg/kg in the SMC used. Similarly; this vegetable utilized 1.48 mg/kg of nitrogen in the SMC. The highest height in each vegetable was attained with 6 kg of depleted garden soil supplemented with 600 g of SMC. At 9 wk, A. esculentus has the mean height of 85.0 cm while these values significantly increased to 100.00 cm at 14 wk (p ≤ 0.05). At 9 wk, L. esculentum has the highest mean height of 65.00 cm which increased to 71.00 cm after 14 wk. It was also observed that A. esculentus has the highest mean number of fruits (9.00), followed in order by C. chinense (8.00) and L. esculentus (7.00) (p ≤ 0.05) while, C. annum produced the least mean number of fruits (5.00). No fruits production was seen in the control experiments. The results of these findings were discussed in relation to the usage of SMC as possible organic fertilizer for the improvement of growth of vegetables in Nigeria.

Metal uptake in lolium perenne established on spent mushroom compost amended lead‐zinc tailings

AbstractA greenhouse trial was performed to contrast the growth and metal accumulation in Lolium perenne established on pyritic tailings amended with varying applications of spent mushroom compost (SMC). The lead‐zinc tailings were retrieved from a moderately vegetated land impoundment facility located at Gortmore, Silvermines, Co. Tipperary (Ireland) and SMC was incorporated at application rates of 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 t ha−1. The grass species Lolium perenne was sown at an application rate of 200 kg ha−1 and the subsequent biomass determined after 42 and 84 days. For the most part, metal concentrations in Lolium perenne showed a significant linear response (p &lt; 0·05) to SMC application and generally decreased favourably with increasing SMC application (p &lt; 0·05). This phenomenon may be attributed to the vast biosorption capacity of SMC owing to the presence of phenolic, carboxyl and phenolic functional groups, the development of stable metal chelates by the organic matter present in SMC and/or by the biosorbing of toxic metals by fungal mycelium, however this reduction in metal uptake by Lolium perenne is most likely due to greater plant dry weight caused by the increasing SMC applications. In spite of this, Lolium perenne suffered severe toxicity resulting from the inherently high concentrations of total zinc (1443–5920 mg kg−1), lead (33–478 mg kg−1) and cadmium (1·4–49 mg kg−1) accumulated within the plant 84 days after seeding, the grass had adversely withered irrespective of SMC application. Therefore, a barrier break must be introduced in the tailings facility to prevent the uptake and accumulation of these lethal metal concentrations by plants. Only then should SMC and other suitable soil forming materials be utilized as growing media, as the incorporation of an organic amendment followed by direct seeding of a grass species is not economically or environmentally viable for permanent re‐vegetation of the Gortmore tailings management facility (TMF). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Effects of spent mushroom compost on quality and productivity of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown in greenhouses

This study was conducted to determine the effects of spent mushroom compost (SMC), which is a waste product of mushroom processing through a year, on greenhouse cucumber growth as an organic matter source for the soil. The effects of SMC on several yield related characteristics, such as total yield, fruit width, fruit length, total soluble solids, first quality fruit yield in total yield and nutrition content of the cucumber fruit were investigated. The effects of SMC on total yield and fruit width obtained during the whole vegetation period were statistically significant. On the other hand, no significant differences were determined among the SMC treatments for the first quality fruit yield, total soluble solids and fruit length. The highest total fruit yield was obtained at 40 ton ha-1 and it was followed by 80 and 20 ton ha-1 SMC applications. The highest values of fruit width and the nitrogen contents in cucumber were found at 80 ton ha-1 SMC application. Based on the present study it was concluded that as an organic material source and amendment of greenhouse soil application of at least 6 months waited SMC was very effective and beneficiary for cucumber growth, productivity and recycling the spent mushroom compost.

Allium White Rot Suppression with Composts and Trichoderma viride in Relation to Sclerotia Viability

ABSTRACT Allium white rot (AWR) is a serious disease of Allium spp. caused by the sclerotium-forming fungus Sclerotium cepivorum. This work has examined the effects of onion waste compost (OWC) and spent mushroom compost (SMC), with and without Trichoderma viride S17A, on sclerotia viability and AWR in glasshouse and field experiments. Incorporation of OWC into soil reduced the viability of sclerotia and the incidence of AWR on onion plants in glasshouse pot bioassays, whereas SMC or T. viride S17A only reduced incidence of AWR. In two field trials, OWC reduced sclerotia viability and was as effective in reducing AWR as a fungicide (Folicur, a.i. tebuconazole). Field application of SMC had no effect on sclerotia viability and did not control AWR. However, the addition of T. viride S17A to SMC facilitated proliferation of T. viride S17A in the soil and increased the healthy onion bulb yield. The results indicate two mechanisms for the suppression of AWR: (i) reduction in the soil population of viable sclerotia, which may be due to volatile sulfur compounds detected in OWC but absent in SMC, and (ii) prevention of infection of onion plants from sclerotia following amendment of soil with OWC, SMC, or T. viride S17A.

Identification of novel eubacteria from spent mushroom compost (SMC) waste by DNA sequence typing: ecological considerations of disposal on agricultural land

A small study was undertaken to examine the microbiological characteristics of spent mushroom compost (SMC), which is the major waste by-product of the mushroom industry and which is regularly disposed off by application to agricultural land. The primary aim of this study was to examine SMC for the presence of faecal bacterial pathogens, including Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Secondly it was desirable to quantify bacterial and fungal populations within SMC, and also qualitatively identify the diversity of bacterial populations within SMC, through employment of rDNA PCR and direct sequencing techniques on the culturable microflora. Conventional microbiological analyses of SMC material ( n=30) from six commercial operations in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, failed to detect Salmonella spp , Listeria spp. or Campylobacter spp. in any of the SMC material examined. Total aerobic plate counts gave a mean count of log 10 7.01 colony forming units (cfu) per gram SMC material (range: log 10 6.53–7.52 cfu/g). Fungal counts gave a mean count of log 10 4.57 cfu per gram SMC material (range: log 10 3.93–4.98 cfu/g). From a total of greater than 50 colony picks, a total of 12 bacterial morphotypes were identified and were further examined by employment of partial 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing techniques, yielding several genera and species, including Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella/Enterobacter sp. Microbacterium sp. Paenibacillus lentimorbus, Pseudomonas mevalonii, Sphingobacterium multivorum and Stenotrophomonas sp. This is the first preliminary report on the microbial diversity of SMC waste and demonstrates the presence of several species that have not been previously described in SMC, in addition to two potentially novel species within the genera Microbacterium and Stenotrophomonas. It is thereby important to examine the ecological microbe–microbe and plant–microbe interactions that are occurring between the native bacterial soil flora and those added annually (theoretically estimated at approximately 10 18 cells) through the application of SMC. Such studies would be beneficial in helping to ascertain the ecological consequences involved in the disposal of SMC waste on agricultural land.

Inorganic-N release from spent mushroom compost under laboratory and field conditions

Inorganic-N release from soil amended with spent mushroom compost (SMC), a by-product of mushroom production, was measured in three open laboratory incubations (25–30°C) and in field lysimeters. Rates of SMC application to the soil were up to 80 t ha −1 equivalent (0.84% dry weight in the laboratory). SMC contained 1.8% N of which 94% was organic, and had a C-to-N ratio of 17. Small amounts of inorganic-N were leached from SMC in the first incubation (3–18% of that applied). Trends in the data suggested that N in the SMC was initially immobilized in the 20 and 40 t ha −1 treatments, as shown by modelling using a negative first order exponential term; it was then slowly mineralized according to zero order kinetics. The laboratory optimized model of inorganic-N loss, when modified to account for field soil temperatures, estimated a similar amount of inorganic-N loss as was observed in the field. The century model overestimated inorganic-N leaching from SMC in the laboratory and underestimated inorganic-N leaching in the field. Fertilizer, containing N, P, K and S, reduced the net amount of inorganic-N recovered from SMC–soil mixtures. The rate of inorganic-N leaching from mushroom compost was considerably slower than from glycine or chicken litter applied at the same N rate. The sterilants applied to mushroom compost during mushroom production and compost sterilization had little effect on the rate of inorganic-N leached from the compost; however, hypochlorite and formaldehyde caused a small increase and decrease respectively in the cumulative amount of inorganic-N leached from mushroom-compost-amended soil. The slow rate of release of inorganic-N from SMC-amended soil is predominantly the result of the slow mineralization of recalcitrant organic-N in SMC.

Growth response of selected vegetable crops to spent mushroom compost application in a controlled environment

Snap bean, cucumber, radish, spinach, and tomato seedlings and plants were grown in soils amended with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 50% spent mushroom compost (SMC) under greenhouse conditions. While total seedling emergence was not affected by the addition of SMC, the rate of seedling emergence was delayed. Increased growth was observed in the range of 30 to 50% SMC. The elemental content in seedling tissue indicated an antagonism among K, Ca, and Mg for ion uptake. Increased plant growth and yield were obtained with addition of 20 to 30% SMC; those grown at 50% SMC exhibited some stunting. The limiting factor in the use of SMC appeared to be its high soluble salts content.