Mixture Of Wheat Straw Research Articles

Temperature rise and weight loss characteristics of wheat straw under microwave heating

The temperature rise and weight loss characteristics of wheat straw and their mixture under microwave irradiation have been investigated in the laboratory with a fixed bed microwave reactor. The influences of both the microwave power and the additives on the temperature rise and weight loss characteristics of wheat straw are the focuses of this work, which aims to explore a new theoretical foundation for advanced pyrolysis methods. The temperature rise curves show that pure wheat straw had a weak capability to absorb microwave energy, while the mixture of wheat straw and pyrolytic residue had a very strong absorption capability. The ability to absorb microwave energy of the mixture increased with increasing amount of pyrolytic residue. These results are in good agreement with the results of the weight loss curves. Thus, it is feasible to pyrolyze wheat straw in microwave fields by addition of small amounts of pyrolytic residue.

Effects of aqueous extract of soil-like substrate made from three different materials on seed germination and seedling growth of rice

Biologically processing rice and wheat straws into soil-like substrate (SLS) and then reusing them in plant cultivation system to achieve waste recycle is very crucially important in Bioregenerative life support system (BLSS). However, rice is a plant with strong allelopathic potential. It is not clear yet that what kinds of raw materials can be processed into proper SLS to grow rice in BLSS. Therefore, in this study, the aqueous extract of SLS made from three different materials including rice straw, wheat straw and rice–wheat straw mixture was utilized to investigate its effects on the seed germination and seedling growth of rice. The gradients of the extract concentrations (soil:water) were 1:3, 1:5, 1:9, and 1:15 with deionized water used as control. The effects of different types of SLS on seed germination and seedling vitality of rice were confirmed by analyzing the germination rate, seedling length, root length, the fresh weight and other indicants. In addition, based on the analysis towards pH, organic matter composition and other factors of the SLS as well as the chlorophyll, hormone content of rice, and the mechanism of the inhibition was speculated in order to explore the preventive methods of the phenomenon. Finally, the feasibility of cultivating rice on SLSs made from the raw materials mentioned above was evaluated and wheat raw was determined as the most appropriate material for growing rice.

English

The effect of passive aeration on substrate quality, composting period and yield was studied using different perforated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes arrangements, as a composting method for substrate preparation to Agaricus bisporus cultivation. The ingredients are, mixture of wheat straw (60%), wheat bran (5.5%), chicken manure (31%), urea (0.5%) and gypsum (3%) with initial moisture (75%) used for composting. It was demonstrated that passive aeration is the key parameter controlling composting process, shortened the compost period, enhance the substrate quality and Agaricus yield as of pile composting. The substrate physico-chemical characteristics that is, moisture content, temperature pattern, bulk density, pH, electric conductivity, C: N ratio and thermophilic fungi activity varied significantly with composting period. The parallel arrangement (10% perforations) was found best among all the passive aeration treatments for achieving the quality substrate in shortest composting period of 16 day and enhance the A. bisporus yield up to 27.6%. This study also opens possibility to cultivate A. bisporus on a lingo-cellulosic, non-pasteurized, non-conditioned, aerated substrate and that composting for 16 days improve the mushroom yield with minimum energy, labor and infrastructure.

Cement-bonded particleboard with a mixture of wheat straw and poplar wood

We investigated the hydration behavior and some physical/mechanical properties of cement-bonded particleboard (CBPB) containing particles of wheat straw and poplar wood at various usage ratios and bonded with Portland cement mixed with different levels of inorganic additives. We determined the setting time and compression strength of cement pastes containing different additives and particles, and studied the effects of these additives and particles on thickness swelling, internal bond strength and modulus of rupture of CBPB by using RSM (Response Surface Methodology). The mathematical model equations (second-order response functions) were derived to optimize properties of CBPB by computer simulation programming. Predicted values were in agreement with experimental values (R2 values of 0.93, 0.96 and 0.96 for TS, IB and MOR, respectively). RSM can be efficiently applied to model panel properties. The variables can affect the properties of panels. The cement composites with bending strength > 12.5 MPa and internal bond strength > 0.28 MPa can be made by using wheat straw as a reinforcing material. Straw particle usage up to 11.5% in the mixture satisfies the minimum requirements of International Standard, EN 312 (2003) for IB and MOR. The dose of 4.95% calcium chloride, by weight of cement, can improve mechanical properties of the panels at the minimum requirement of EN 312. By increasing straw content from 0 to 30%, TS was reduced by increasing straw particle usage up to 1.5% and with 5.54% calcium chloride in the mixture, TS satisfied the EN 312 standard.

Biochemical changes and GHG emissions during composting of lignocellulosic residues with different N-rich by-products

Nitrogen availability plays a critical role in the biodegradation of organic matter during composting. Although the optimal initial C/N is known to be around 25–30, the chemical form in which N is present influences microbial activity and therefore degradation rate and gaseous losses. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of N availability on the composting of a mixture of lignocellulosic materials. Three composting piles were made of a mixture of wheat straw and cotton waste, each pile containing different N-rich animal by-products. The evolution of the main physico-chemical parameters was monitored (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, C/N, NH4+, NO3-, water soluble C and N) as well as the enzymatic activity related to the cycle of the main nutrients (β-glucosidase, protease, alkaline phosphatase and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis). Additionally, fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O emitted from the composting piles were measured by the closed-chamber technique. Cumulative CO2 emissions were fitted to five different kinetic models with biological significance to C mineralization data. The application of the different N-rich residues had a significant effect on the C and N dynamics during composting. However, most enzymatic activities followed similar patterns in the three piles. The major CO2 fluxes were recorded during the thermophilic phase, showing a direct relationship with temperature peaks. No CH4 fluxes were detected for any of the composting piles during the whole trial, whereas low N2O emissions were found at the early beginning and during the maturation stage.

Influence of Aeration Rate on the Physio-Chemical Characteristics of Biodried Dairy Manure - Wheat Straw Mixture

Animal manure is a prime candidate for thermochemical conversion (co-firing, gasification, and pyrolysis) except for its high moisture content. Biodrying is a promising solution to reduce manure moisture with minimum energy input. This study investigated the effects of different aeration rates; low (0.05 L/min/kg VM), medium (0.80 L/min/kgVM), and high (1.50 L/min/kgVM), on the biodrying of dairy manure mixed with wheat straw. The moisture content dropped in 21 days from 56% to 28%, 34%, and 35% wb under high, medium, and low aeration rates, respectively. The heating value of the mixture decreased from 16.19 MJ/kgdry to 14.31, 13.79, and 13.83 MJ/kgdry under high, medium, and low aeration, respectively. Evaluation of energy consumption to remove a unit mass of moisture showed that high aeration levels required the least energy input, 7.84 MJ/kgH2O, followed by low aeration at 7.93 MJ/ kgH2O, while the medium aeration had a relatively high energy cost for water removal, 9.09 MJ/ kgH2O. The high aeration level was superior in terms of both drying energy and time requirements to the other rates considered. Comparison showed that high aeration level biodrying (1.50 L/min/kgVM) exceeded the range of conventional drying energy demand. However, the ratio of external fossil fuel demand was much lower in biodrying (due to the auto-thermal effect) than in conventional drying.

Pyrolysis of wheat straw-derived organosolv lignin

The cost-effectiveness of a lignocellulose biorefinery may be improved by developing applications for lignin with a higher value than application as fuel. We have developed a pyrolysis based lignin biorefinery approach, called LIBRA, to transform lignin into phenolic bio-oil and biochar using bubbling fluidized bed reactor technology. The bio-oil is a potential source for value-added products that can replace petrochemical phenol in wood-adhesives, resins and polymer applications. The biochar can e.g. be used as a fuel, as soil-improver as solid bitumen additive and as a precursor for activated carbon. In this paper we applied the pyrolysis-based LIBRA concept for the valorisation of wheat straw-derived organosolv lignin. First, we produced lignin with a high purity from two wheat straw varieties, using an organosolv fractionation approach. Subsequently, we converted these lignins into bio-oil and biochar by pyrolysis. For comparison purposes, we also tested two reference lignins, one from soda-pulping of a mixture of wheat straw and Sarkanda grass (Granit) and one from Alcell organosolv fractionation of hardwoods. Results indicate that ∼80 wt% of the dry lignin can be converted into bio-oil (with a yield of 40–60%) and biochar (30–40%). The bio-oil contains 25–40 wt% (based on the dry lignin weight) of a phenolic fraction constituting of monomeric (7–11%) and oligomeric (14–24%) components. The monomeric phenols consist of guaiacols, syringols, alkyl phenols, and catechols. 4-vinylguaiacol is the major phenolic monomer that is formed during the pyrolysis of the straw lignins in yields from 0.5–1 wt%. For the hardwood-lignin Alcell, the predominant phenol is 4-methylsyringol (1.2 wt%). The ratio guaiacols/syringols seems to be an indicative marker for the source of the lignin.

Microbial mineralization of biochar and wheat straw mixture in soil: A short-term study

A short-term incubation study was carried out to investigate the effect of biochar addition to soil on CO 2 emissions, microbial biomass, soil soluble carbon (C) nitrogen (N) and nitrate–nitrogen (NO 3–N). Four soil treatments were investigated: soil only (control); soil + 5% biochar; soil + 0.5% wheat straw; soil + 5% biochar + 0.5% wheat straw. The biochar used was obtained from hardwood by pyrolysis at 500 °C. Periodic measurements of soil respiration, microbial biomass, soluble organic C, N and NO 3–N were performed throughout the experiment (84 days). Only 2.8% of the added biochar C was respired, whereas 56% of the added wheat straw C was decomposed. Total net CO 2 emitted by soil respiration suggested that wheat straw had no priming effect on biochar C decomposition. Moreover, wheat straw significantly increased microbial C and N and at the same time decreased soluble organic N. On the other hand, biochar did not influence microbial biomass nor soluble organic N. Thus it is possible to conclude that biochar was a very stable C source and could be an efficient, long-term strategy to sequester C in soils. Moreover, the addition of crop residues together with biochar could actively reduce the soil N leaching potential by means of N immobilization.

Analysis on Products and Residues of Liquefaction of Wheat Straw & Polyester in Supercritical Ethanol

The mixture of wheat straw (WS) and polyester (PC) was liquefied in supercritical ethanol. Liquefied products produced and liquefied residue from the liquefaction under different supercritical conditions were analyzed by GC-MS, SEM and IR. GC-MS analysis of the liquefied products indicates that ethanol would decompose. And the most compounds in the liquefied product had the structure of phenol and phenol derivatives, which came from the degradation products of PC and WS. SEM analysis show that the wheat straw powder possessed larger particles with smooth surfaces while the residue from liquefaction had smaller particles with rough surfaces because of drastically degraded from the wheat straw powder surface under supercritical conditions. FT-IR analysis showed that the lignin was easily degraded during the liquefaction process, and also found to the cellulose is very difficult to liquefy for its crystalline structure.

Mycelium growth and yield of wild strains of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Quel. cultivated on waste materials from the textile industry

Abstract The objective of the experiment was to compare mycelium growth and the yield of wild strains of Pleurotus ostreatus derived from natural sites and of a cultivated HK35 strain. Mycelium growth was investigated on substrates prepared from the sawdust of deciduous trees, wheat and rye straw as well as by-products from the textile industry: flax and hemp shives. Irrespective of the applied substrate, the cultivated HK35 strain was characterised by the fastest growth, whereas amongst the examined wild strains, mycelia designated as U18/5, S12/3 and B17/4 were found to grow best. Substrates prepared from wheat and rye straw and flax shives turned out to be the best for mycelium growth of the tested strains of P. ostreatus. The yield of oyster mushroom depended on the type of applied substrate. Higher yields were recorded on substrates from flax shives and a mixture of wheat straw and hemp shives than on wheat straw. The cultivated HK35 strain and the wild S12/3 strain gave the highest yields irrespective of the kind of substrate.

Effects of type and level of fibre on digestive physiology and performance in reproducing and growing rabbits.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of level and type of fibre on performance and digestive traits of lactating does and growing rabbits. Two lactation diets were formulated to contain a similar level of NDF (29%): a mixture of alfalfa hay and wheat straw in diet L1 was substituted with apple pulp in diet L2. Three fattening diets were formulated: diet F1 was the same than diet L1 whereas F2 and F3 had higher level of NDF (33 and 36%, respectively) with a mixture of wheat straw and alfalfa hay in diet F2 substituted by apple pulp in diet F3. A total of 110 does and their litters were controlled during two consecutive lactations from 21 to 35 d. At weaning (35 days of age) 480 rabbits were housed collectively (four per cage) and 180 individually. Another 54 rabbits were slaughtered to determine digestive traits at 45 days of age. At 35 days of age, L1 rabbits showed 5.9 and 6.9% higher daily feed intake and body weight than L2 rabbits. In the fattening period (35 to 63 days), L1 rabbits showed a higher growth rate but a lower feed efficiency than L2 animals. In the fattening period, F1 rabbits showed a 5.9% higher weight gain and 8.8% lower feed conversion than F2 animals, whereas animals fed diet F2 had a higher weight gain (7.6%) and a worse feed conversion (6.5%) than animals fed diet F3. The highest apparent ileal digestibility of DM values was obtained for diets F1 and F3. Villi length tended to be longer (P<0.10) in animals fed the diet F1 and F3. No significant influence of treatments was detected on caecal pH, anaerobic bacteria counting or rabbit mortality (only 0.9% on average). In conclusion the substitution of a mixture of wheat straw and alfalfa hay by apple pulp in isofibrous diets increases feed efficiency but also impairs feed intake and growth rate. Furthermore, in a context of low mortality, diets with 29-30% NDF would lead to better performances in the fattening period than diets containing 33-36% NDF levels.

Utilización de Residuos Forestales Lignocelulósicos para Producción del Hongo Ostra (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Organic waste resulting from the forest practices, containing lignocellulosic carbon sources, was used in the production of the mushroom specie Pleurotus ostreatus. For this, the chemical composition before and after harvest were analyzed, the phenological and morphological variables were determined and yield and quality of harvested fruit bodies also determined. Four treatments were performed: chips of poplars, chips of eucalyptus, a mixture of wheat straw and eucalyptus, and wheat straw as witness. The results showed that all substrates, especially wheat straw and wheat straw with eucalyptus, are suitable for the production of Pleurotus ostreatus. This species showed a high protein level in all the studied substrates, and the ratio carbon/nitrogen decreased after harvest.

Ethanol production from mixtures of wheat straw and wheat meal

BackgroundBioethanol can be produced from sugar-rich, starch-rich (first generation; 1G) or lignocellulosic (second generation; 2G) raw materials. Integration of 2G ethanol with 1G could facilitate the introduction of the 2G technology. The capital cost per ton of fuel produced would be diminished and better utilization of the biomass can be achieved. It would, furthermore, decrease the energy demand of 2G ethanol production and also provide both 1G and 2G plants with heat and electricity. In the current study, steam-pretreated wheat straw (SPWS) was mixed with presaccharified wheat meal (PWM) and converted to ethanol in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF).ResultsBoth the ethanol concentration and the ethanol yield increased with increasing amounts of PWM in mixtures with SPWS. The maximum ethanol yield (99% of the theoretical yield, based on the available C6 sugars) was obtained with a mixture of SPWS containing 2.5% water-insoluble solids (WIS) and PWM containing 2.5% WIS, resulting in an ethanol concentration of 56.5 g/L. This yield was higher than those obtained with SSF of either SPWS (68%) or PWM alone (91%).ConclusionsMixing wheat straw with wheat meal would be beneficial for both 1G and 2G ethanol production. However, increasing the proportion of WIS as wheat straw and the possibility of consuming the xylose fraction with a pentose-fermenting yeast should be further investigated.

Kültür Mantarı (Agaricus bisporus(L.) Sing.) Yetiştiriciliğinde Çay Atığı ve Buğday Sapı Karışımından Hazırlanan Kompostların Kullanımı

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of composts prepared by different ratios of tea waste (TW) and wheat straw (WS) (1TW:3WS, 2TW:2WS, 3TW:1WS, 4TW and 4WS) on mycelium growth, mushroom yield and some quality properties of Agaricus bisporus mushroom. In the research, compost properties such as pH, moisture, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and some mineral contents and C:N ratios were determined at the end of the pastorization process. The highest total mushroom yield was obtained from 2TW:2WS ( 227.26 kg/t compost) compost. It was determined that mushroom yields of composts prepared by tea waste alone and it's mixtures of wheat straw were higher than compost prepared by wheat straw (control). It was found that the effects of composts on average mushroom weight, dry matter and protein content were highly significant.

Quality evaluation of co-composted wheat straw, poultry droppings and oil seed cakes

Poultry droppings, neem cake, castor cake, jatropha cake and grass clippings were used separately as organic nitrogen additives to decrease the high C:N ratio of wheat straw. Composting was carried out aerobically in presence of fungal consortium developed by including Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus nidulans, Trichoderma viride and Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The degraded product was characterized to assess the technical viability of organic nitrogen supplements as well as fungal consortium in improving the quality of compost and hastening the process of decomposition of high lignocellulolytic waste. Evaluation of maturity showed that mixture of wheat straw, poultry dropping and jatropha cake had the lowest C:N ratio of 10:1, the highest humic acid fraction of 3.15%, the lowest dehydrogenase activity and a germination index exceeding 80% in 60 days of decomposition. Inoculated and grass clipping amended wheat straw-poultry dropping mixture resulted in compost with highest humus content of 11.8% and C:N ratio of 13.5, humic acid fraction of 2.84% and germination index of 59.66%. Fungal consortium was effective in improving the humus content of all the composted mixtures. In some treatments, germination index could not be correlated with C:N ratio. Non edible oil seed cake supplemented substrate mixtures did not respond to fungal inoculation as far as C:N ratio was concerned.

Qualitative and quantitative evolution of polyphenolic compounds during composting of an olive-mill waste–wheat straw mixture

Olive-mill wastes represent a significant environmental problem in Mediterranean areas due to their important production during a short period of time. Their high polyphenol, lipid and organic acid concentrations turn them into phytotoxic wastes. This work examined the evolution of polyphenolic compounds during the composting of an olive-mill waste–wheat straw mixture by using quantitative (Folin–Ciocalteu) and qualitative (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, HPLC) analyses. The polyphenol content decreased strongly by 93% while the significant correlations obtained between polyphenol content and different humification indices and lignin losses suggested that polyphenols contribute to the synthesis of humic substances. In addition, the significant correlation found between germination index, polyphenols and humification indices must be related to the progressive substrate detoxification as humification process progressed, leading to a non-phytotoxic and partially humified end-product. Nine polyphenolic compounds were identified by HPLC, most of which had disappeared by the end of composting, when only traces of hydroxytyrosol, caffeic and syringic acids and oleuropein were detected.

Use of In vitro Gas Production Technique to Investigate Interactions between Rice Straw, Wheat Straw, Maize Stover and Alfalfa or Clover

Measurement of gas produced during in vitro fermentation was used to investigate the fermentation characteristics and interactions of rice straw, wheat straw or maize stover mixed with alfalfa or clover at proportions of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100, respectively. Cumulative gas production was recorded at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 and 48 h of incubation, and the Gompertz function was used to describe the kinetics of gas production. In vitro dry matter and organic matter disappearances (IVDMD and IVOMD) were determined after 48 h incubation. The rate of gas production of clover was higher (p<0.05) than that of rice straw, wheat straw, maize stover and alfalfa when straws and hays were incubated separately. Increasing the proportion of alfalfa in the straw-alfalfa mixtures increased (p<0.05) the rates, but not the maximum volume of gas production. However, both rate and the maximum volume of gas production were increased (p<0.01) as the proportions of clover increased in the straw-clover mixtures. The cumulative gas production at 48 h, IVDMD and IVOMD showed no consistent interaction effects between different mixtures of cereal straws and hays. The extent of interactive effects was affected by the types of cereal straw, legume hay and their proportions in the mixture. The appropriate combination for the mixture of rice straw or maize stover with leguminous hays was 75:25 and 25:75, respectively. The better combination occurred at a proportion of 50:50 for the mixture of wheat straw and alfalfa. We conclude that the suitable proportion of low-quality straw and high quality legume hay combination should be considered in the ration formulation system of ruminants according to the extent of positive interactive effects.

Efficiency and gases emissions with incineration of composite and one-component biofuel briquettes in room heater

In accordance with the technical standard ČSN EN 13229 “Inset appliances for heating including open fires fired by solid fuels – Requirements and test methods” was performed the basic assessment of thermal efficiency and emission parameters of prototype of combustion accumulation stove SK-2 with upper after-burning and nominal heat output of 8 kW. Verified gradually were the bio-briquettes of diameter 65 mm from mixture of wheat straw and 20% m/m of brown coal, wheat straw and 5% m/m of brown coal, wheat straw, mixture of wheat straw and 10% m/m of water and molasses solution, Ecobiopal created with the fermented blend of 33% m/m of digested clean water plant sludge and 67% m/m of wood chopped material, blend of wheat straw and 15% m/m of sugar beet pulp, mixture of timothy hay and 25% m/m of brown coal, timothy grass hay, meadow hay, mixture of meadow hay and 25% m/m of brown coal. The lowest CO emissions, when the limit value of 3000 mg/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sub&gt;N&lt;/sub&gt; at 13% of O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; has not been exceeded, determined for more strict 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; class and the highest efficiency at nominal heat performance, i.e. higher or equal to 70% (Class I) have been reached by the briquettes produced from mixture of wheat straw and 15% m/m of sugar beet pulp, timothy hay and mixture of meadow hay with addition of 25% m/m of brown coal. Further were measured NO&lt;sub&gt;x&lt;/sub&gt; and HCl emissions. NO&lt;sub&gt;x&lt;/sub&gt; values were significantly lower than limit values determined for similar combustion of solid biofuel. Higher differences of HCl emissions correlate with various Cl content in fuels. Only the wheat straw briquettes with share of 25% m/m of brown coal have exceeded the limit value by 16%. Other fuels have shown considerably lower values. The results have proved better heat-technical and emission parameters of blended briquettes and are significant also for solid biofuels and solid recovered fuels standardization as well as for increasing efficiency method detection and ecological parameters optimization including HCl emissions.

In vitro Methanogenesis and Fermentation of Feeds Containing Oil Seed Cakes with Rumen Liquor of Buffalo

Eight feeds (mixture of wheat straw and oil seed cakes in 3:1 ratio) were evaluated for methane emission and fermentation pattern with buffalo rumen liquor as inoculum in an in vitro gas production test. The cakes tested were groundnut cake (GNC), soybean cake (SBC), mustard seed cake (MSC), cotton seed cake (CSC), karanj seed cake expeller extracted (KCEE), karanj seed cake solvent extracted (KCSE), caster bean cake expeller extracted (CBCEE) and caster bean cake solvent extracted (CBCSE). The gas production (ml/g dry matter) was significantly higher with SBC and MSC followed by CSC, GNC, KCSE, KCEE, CBCSE and was the lowest with CBCEE. Methane emission was significantly lower with KCEE, KCSE, CBCEE, CBCSE (20.32- 22.43 ml/g DM) than that with SBC, GNC, CSC (27.34-31.14 ml/g DM). Mustard seed cake was in-between the two groups of oil cakes in methane production. In vitro true digestibility was highest with SBC followed by GNC, CSC, MSC, KCSE, KCEE, CBCSE and CECEE. Ammonia nitrogen level was positively correlated with the amount of protein present in the cake. Total holotrich protozoa were significantly higher with SBC, whereas, large spirotrich protozoa tended to be lower than with other cakes. The counts of small spirotrich and total protozoa were similar with all the cakes. Total volatile fatty acid production and acetate to propionate ratio were significantly higher with SBC and significantly lower with KCEE as compared to the other cakes. Among the conventional oil cakes tested in the present experiment (GNC, SBC, MSC and CSC), mustard seed cake-based feed produced the minimum methane without affecting other fermentation characteristics adversely.

Productivity of agricultural residues used for the cultivation of the medicinal fungus Lentinula edodes

Abstract Lentinula edodes mushrooms were produced by solid-state fermentation, using as substrates different mixtures of wheat straw (WS), corn-cobs (CC), and oak-wood sawdust (OS). Studies were conducted for evaluating their bio-transformation efficiency with respect to substrate colonization, time of sporophore production, biological efficiency, and mushroom nitrogen content, as well as basidiocarp number and size. First, the potential of residue-substrates to support early fructification was evaluated in glass-tubes. The mushrooms appeared 50–60 days after inoculation, with WS and CC promoting earlier sporophore initiation than did OS. A second experiment, where L. edodes mushrooms were cultivated in ‘bag-logs’, revealed high productivity on CC and high mushroom protein content on OS-based substrates. However, WS appeared to promote early fructification and mushroom quality. Finally, mushroom production characteristics in tubes and bags were correlated with nitrogen content and C/N ratio of substrates. Early fructification was positively related to nitrogen content. Substrate mixtures with lower C/N ratio favoured earlier sporophore induction.