Nutrient supplements that influence later break yield of Agaricus bisporus

Abstract

Nutrient depletion and accumulation of toxic metabolites in compost are believed to be limiting factors and responsible for decreased yields as a mushroom crop ages. The objective of this study was to determine whether mineral nutrients limited later break yield of Agaricus bisporus in compost supplemented with additional protein-lipid rich supplements. Unsupplemented compost receiving rock phosphate or hypnum peat did not have a significant increase in later break yield. However, rock phosphate, sodium phosphate and hypnum peat added to protein-lipid rich, delayed release supplemented compost at spawning increased yield in later breaks. These results suggest the nutrient requirement satisfied by a protein-lipid rich, delayed release supplement was a prerequisite for supplementary phosphorous or hypnum peat to increase later break yields. Key words:Agaricus bisporus, hypnum peat, potassium, phosphorus