Effects of spent mushroom substrate on soil chemical conditions and plant growth in an intensive horticultural system: a comparison with inorganic fertiliser

Abstract

Between November 1991 and 1993, 4 consecutive vegetable crops (sweetcorn, cabbage, potato, and cabbage) were grown in Lincoln, New Zealand. The treatments included spent mushroom substrate (SMS, a by-product of the mushroom industry) applications before each crop at rates of 0, 20, 40, or 80 t/ha (moist), both with and without 1 rate of inorganic fertiliser for each crop (120-338, 40-100, 53-100, and 60-114 kg/ha, respectively, of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur). SMS applications caused a rapid increase in soil inorganic N concentration, but after this it had a variable effect. There was some evidence of N immobilisation following initial SMS applications of 20 t/ha. SMS applications increased both soil pH and CEC, whereas inorganic fertiliser decreased both. Sweetcorn and cabbage yields were increased by SMS when inorganic fertiliser was not used, and potato yield was increased irrespective of fertiliser use (i.e. yield increases of 38%, 82-96%, and 26-46%, respectively, for sweetcorn cob, cabbage head, and potato tuber fresh yields). Inorganic fertiliser increased crop yields by a greater amount than SMS. A lack of soil inorganic N was the major limitation to crop growth following SMS applications, so crops may require additional N with SMS.

Relationships between soil physico-chemical, chemical and biological properties in a soil amended with spent mushroom substrate

“…For this reason, passive leaching by rainfall and snowmelt is a method to treat spent mushroom substrates before its use (Guo and Chorover, 2006). Also, different authors have found an initial net immobilisation of nitrogen (Stewart et al, 1998a) or a nitrification inhibition (Maher, 1994;Stewart et al, 1998b), when these waste substrates were used as organic amendments. So, the mineralisation dynamics of spent mushroom substrates in soil needs to be thoroughly evaluated since it is the main process regulating nutrient availability.…”

Is There a Positive Synergistic Effect of Biochar and Compost Soil Amendments on Plant Growth and Physiological Performance?

“…The water content of the SMS was 41.10% ± 0.17% (n = 10 samples of 10 g each, dried for 48 h at 60 • C), therefore the dosage on dry mass basis was~1.76 kg·m −2 . Dosages for BC and SMS were calculated relative to pot soil surface area (200 cm 2 /4-L pot; 30 g BC and/or 60 g SMS/pot) and are in the range of dosages used in previous studies that improved plant growth (e.g., [24,26,56]). Abutilon theophrasti seeds were germinated in a non-soil growing mix seven days prior to planting.…”

“…However, negative growth responses have occasionally been reported possibly due to high salinity or metal concentration in compost [25]. Mushroom compost has improved fruit yield in several agricultural crops in the relative short term (one growing season) at high dosages (4.0-8.0 kg·m −2 ) [24,26]; however, the effects of mushroom compost on the growth and performance of woody plants/crops have only been minimally investigated [27].…”

“…Spent mushroom substrate (SMS), also called mushroom compost, is a by-product of the mushroom industry that is commonly used as a soil amendment, and has shown particularly strong positive effects on plant growth and soil function [22]. Like BC, mushroom compost generally limes soils and increases the availability and uptake of nutrients-especially N, P, and K [23,24]. However, negative growth responses have occasionally been reported possibly due to high salinity or metal concentration in compost [25].…”

Yield Potential, Nutrient Uptake, Metal Fractionation and Effect on Soil Properties under Integrative Use of Varied C:N Ratio Composts, Fly Ash and Inorganic Fertilizer Nitrogen in Rice Grown on Inceptisol

“…Although this compost is no longer economical for growing consecutive mushroom after harvesting of mushroom, mushroom compost is a valuable soil amendments and source of nutrients for field crop production. The organic material with the different C:N ratios and biochemical compositions not only release nutrients at different pace (Azmal et al, 1996) but also provides specific metal binding sites from which metals are difficult to exchange (Stewart et al, 1998). So there is a great need to create awareness for the use of the organic wastes in combinations with fertilizer nitrogen and fly ash to explore its potentialities, discover its complexities, evaluate its behavior, asses its benefits and learn to adapt for greater benefits, profitability and sustainability in large areas and on the more crops.…”