EVALUATION OF VARIOUS CASING MATERIALS FOR ENHANCING GROWTH AND YIELD OF BUTTON MUSHROOM (AGARICUS BISPORUS LANGE)

Abstract

Fruiting of Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) requires a casing layer that possesses specific physicochemical characteristics and hence, encourages the initiation of fruiting bodies. The experiment was conducted in order to investigate the agronomic performance of different casing materials including Swat peat, Abbottabad peat, spent mushroom compost, common soil and 45cm deep soil. Maximum pH, moisture and nitrogen contents were observed in Abbottabad peat-1. Besides this, time for appearance of fruiting bodies and accomplishment of oncoming harvesting stage was also lowest in peat-I. Yield attributes specifically number of mature fruiting bodies and their weight were also found significant in Abbottabad peat- 2. This research will be supportive for mushroom growers to choose the appropriate casing material for improving growth and yield of button mushroom.