Structure of mushroom casing soil and its influence on yield and microflora.

Abstract

Mushroom yields were higher on more compact casing soil provided (1) a large amount of water was applied (in this case 7 litres/m2) and (2) the upper layer of the casing was ruffled or raked up before the start of the generative phase. Suppressing the diffusion of gaseous metabolites from compost to air during vegetative growth improved the yield provided a good diffusion of air is restored just prior to fructification. Many of the relevant phenomena can be attributed to CO2, but the effect of other metabolites such as acetone and ethylene on fruit body-inducing micro-organisms cannot be neglected. Microbial action appears to be involved in the stimulating effect of soya bean meal added to the mushroom compost. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)