Spent Mushroom Compost as a Substrate for the Production of Lettuce Seedlings

Abstract

The successful production of marketable lettuce heads with full exploitation of the genetic potential of a particular cultivar depends on the availability of seedlings of the highest quality. The aims of the present study were (i) to evaluate the effects of substrates containing different proportions of spent mushroom compost on the growth of lettuce seedlings, and (ii) to determine the enduring effects of substrates containing spent mushroom substrate on the vigor of mature lettuce plants derived from such seedlings. The substrates employed in the germination and development of lettuce seedlings were obtained by mixing spent compost from the cultivation of Agaricus subrufescens and commercial vegetable substrate in different proportions. Seedlings were evaluated with respect to the number of leaves and the height, fresh mass and dry mass of the aerial parts, while mature plants were appraised according to stem height and circumference, fresh mass and dry mass of the lettuce head. Substrate containing between 42 to 48% spent mushroom substrate provided the most adequate conditions for the growth and development of crisphead lettuce seedlings and, consequently, of vigorous marketable plants. Under such conditions, the fresh mass of the aerial parts of seedlings attained a level of 0.89 g plant -1 , while the fresh mass of the marketable heads achieved a maximum of 233.45 g plant -1 . The data presented herein verify that top quality lettuce seedlings yield high quality marketable heads, and that quality improvement can be brought about by the addition of spent mushroom substrate.

Amelioration of Composts for Greenhouse Vegetable Plants Using Pasteurised Agaricus Mushroom Substrate

“…SMC of the tropical mushroom species Agaricus subrufescens Peck [1894] (syn. : A. brasiliensis Wasser, M. Didukh, Amazonas & Stamets, A. blazei Murrill), stimulated growth of lettuce in mineral soil [18] and in bark-vermiculite mix [19], and increased yields from tomato plants propagated in bark-vermiculite [20]. A. subrufescens can be grown in greenhouses on compost made with straw and digestate [21].…”

Application of spent Agaricus subrufescens compost in integrated production of seedlings and plants of tomato

“…Cultivation of mushrooms generates a large amount of spent mushroom compost (SMC) that must be rapidly discarded by the grower to avoid the contamination of new cultivation cycles and infestation by flies or other insects (Marques et al 2014). Furthermore, after cultivation, uncovered SMC should not be stockpiled due to the risk of contaminating groundwater by leaching after rain events (Ribas et al 2009).…”

Pengetahuan agropreneur terhadap potensi sisa substrat cendawan dan kaedah pengurusan lepas tuai tanaman cendawan

“…Kandungan nilai nutrien iaitu nitrogen (N), fosforus (P) dan potassium (K) dalam SMS sangat efektif dimajukan sebagai baja organik atau kompos dan vermikompos (Ahlawat & Sagar, 2007;Grimm & Wȍsten, 2018;Nik Nor Izyan et al, 2009;Ma, et al, 2014). Baja organik ini amat sesuai untuk pembangunan sub sektor pertanian terutamanya tanaman hortikultur serta herba (Ahlawat & Sagar, 2007;Ahlawat & Tewari, 2007;Marshall & Nair, 2009;Marques et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2014). Penggunaan SMS sebagai baja terbukti mampu meningkatkan tahap kesuburan tanah (Food and Fertilizer Technology Center, 2002;Lou et al, 2017;Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, 2012;Yildiz et al, 2002;Zheng et al, 2002); pertumbuhan vegetatif dan pengeluaran hasil; pembentukan tangkai yang lebih tinggi; peningkatan ketinggian tanaman; pengukuhan kualiti berat dan keteguhan buah; mengurangkan serangan penyakit tanaman dan serangga serta meningkatkan hasil ladang (Ahlawat & Sagar, 2007).…”

“…Seramai 25 orang agropreneur mengetahui potensi SMS sebagai kegunaan substrat semaian tanaman iaitu 14 orang (38.9%) di Kedah dan 11 orang (26.2%) di Johor (Jadual 3). Ini bertepatan dengan kajian Marques et al (2014) yang melihat keupayaan SMS sebagai semaian tanaman hortikultur.…”