Evaluation of Different Substrates in Composting for Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus under Agro-ecological Conditions of West Bengal

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of different compost substrates in the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom) in the lateritic belt of West Bengal, India, by assessing parameters such as spawn run period, pinhead formation, sporophore production, yield, and biological efficiency. Study Design: A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications per treatment was implemented to ensure the reliability of statistical analysis. Differences between treatments were assessed using Duncan's multiple range tests at a 5% significance level. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in 2020 at the Mushroom Research Laboratory, within the Department of Plant Pathology, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), situated in Sriniketan, Birbhum district, West Bengal (https://visvabharati.ac.in/PalliSikshaBhavana.html). Methodology: The Long Method of Composting was employed, utilizing various substrates including paddy straw, maize stalks, and their combinations. The experiment measured key cultivation parameters: spawn run duration, time to pinhead formation, number of sporophores, time to first harvest, yield per 8 kg compost bag, and biological efficiency. The presence of any contaminants or infestations, such as Coprinus spp., was also monitored. Results: The compost substrate composed of a 1:1 ratio of paddy straw and maize stalks yielded the best results, with a spawn run period of 20.33 days, pinhead formation at 15.33 days, and sporophore production of 92 per 8 kg compost bag. This substrate also facilitated the earliest first harvest at 9.33 days and achieved the highest yield of 1020.00 g per 8 kg bag with a biological efficiency of 12.75%. In contrast, compost made solely from maize stalks resulted in the lowest yield (643.33 g per 8 kg bag) and biological efficiency (8.04%) and was more prone to infestation by Coprinus spp. Conclusion: The study identifies a 1:1 mixture of paddy straw and maize stalks as the optimal substrate for Agaricus bisporus cultivation in the studied region, offering quick growth cycles and higher yields, which could benefit local mushroom producers by enhancing production efficiency.