Abstract

A large amount of spent substrate produced from the commercial culturing of edible mushrooms is becoming an environmental pollution issue. Here spent Flammulina velutipes substrate, supplemented with unfermented cow dung, gypsum, and calcium superphosphate, as the main compost constituent for the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus were tested. Compared to the conventional culturing method using rice straw as the primary compost constituent, the reuse of spent F. velutipes substrate reduces the cost, shortens the production cycle, and increases the economic yield of the A. bisporus culture. Therefore, such recycling is not only practical, but less environmentally damaging as well.

Key words: Spent mushroom substrate, Flammulina velutipes, compost, Agaricus bisporus.