ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY INDICATORS IN MUSHROOM CULTIVATION USING DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES

Abstract

Button mushrooms are among the most important and most commonly cultivated mushrooms for commercial purposes worldwide. As demand for button mushrooms has grown in the global market, their cultivation has become an industrial branch of agriculture in many countries. Cultivating button mushrooms requires specific conditions, and one of the most important factors influencing cultivation results is the substrate the material in which the mushrooms grow. Mushroom cultivation specialists face daily challenges when growing button mushrooms. Button mushrooms are highly sensitive to their environment and even slight fluctuations in relative humidity—as little as a few percentage points—and even a half-degree change in air temperature can significantly affect their growth and maturation. Given the increasing consumption of oyster mushrooms and the growing demand for them, it is important to identify, understand, and apply optimal cultivation methods and substrates that would ensure the best yield and product quality.

The study was conducted using organic and non-organic substrates for the cultivation of white and brown button mushrooms. During the study, several growing chambers were used at the mushroom farm. In the chambers, the mushrooms were grown on a shelf system. The study evaluated the main properties of the substrate - temperature, moisture, electrical conductivity of dry matter, and yield. The results of the study showed that the stability of the substrates physical properties is the key factor determining higher productivity of field mushrooms.