Disposal of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) generated after mushroom cultivation is a subject of great concern. Unplanned disposal causes land, water, and air pollution together with the nuisance in the surroundings. During recent years, environmental legislation has forced mushroom growers to think about more amicable ways of SMS disposal. Hence, farmers in different corners of the country are using SMS as manure for various field crops and horticulture but without any support of the recommended rates from scientific data and therefore may not be getting the optimum benefits. This study sought to evaluate the effects of spent mushroom substrate on the yield and quality of baby spinach. The experiment was conducted in Mazowe, Zimbabwe, with 5 treatments (10 t ha−1, 20 t ha−1, 30 t ha−1 of SMS, and two controls) arranged in a CRBD and replicated 3 times. Biomass production (fresh mass, dry mass, root length, fresh root mass, and dry root mass) and sensory evaluation were determined 35 days after planting. Results showed that increasing rates of spent mushroom substrate significantly ( p < 0.05) increased the fresh yield and quality of baby spinach. Application of spent mushroom substrate beyond 30 t ha−1, however, increased the bitterness of baby spinach. The results of the study present the potential of the spent mushroom substrate as an organic fertilizer for the production of quality baby spinach.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.