Substrate Preparation for White Button

Mushrooms

A few practical tips on Phase I and Phase II Wet Dry

substrate (compost), and the substrate Ingredients Wt. Wt. %N Tons N
preparation (composting) process, and
Hay 15 T 12.8 T 2.0 % 0.26 T
formulating mushroom compost.
Cobs 15 T 12.8 T 0.3 % 0.04 T
I. Guidelines for calculating nitrogen (N) content
Poultry
1. Calculate the starting N content of pile to be 1.5 to manure 3.8 T 2.4 T 4% 0.09 T
1.7% before composting. The starting N for a synthetic
compost formulas may be slightly higher than the wheat NH 4 NO 3 0.3 T 0.3 T 32% 0.10 T
straw horse manure formulas. Potash 0.3 T 0.3 T 0.0 0.00
2. The percent N will increase throughout Phase I Gypsum 0.6 T 0.6 T 0.0 0.00
composting and Phase II and at spawning time the N
content of the compost should be 2.1-2.3 %. 29.2 T 0.49÷29.2=1.68%
3. Knowing the N and % moisture of the bulk ingredients
Synthetic Pile
and supplements will increase the accuracy of the
calculated and finished nitrogen content.
Wet Dry
4. If supplements are added by volume, occasionally
Ingredients Wt. Wt. %N Tons N
weigh volume added to confirm calculated formula.
5. At the end of Phase I and again at the end of Phase II, Horse
compost may be analyzed for N, ammonia, ash and manure 15 T 10.5 T 1.2% 0.13
moisture. It is important to take a representative samples, Hay 7.5 T 6.3 T 1.1% 0.07
several small handfuls thoroughly mixed. When taking a
sample do not shake the compost. Corn Cobs 7.5 T 6.4 T 0.3% 0.02
Brewer's
II. Examples of Mushroom Compost Formulas grains 3.0 T 3.0 T 4.0% 0.12

Wet Dry Poultry

Ingredients Wt. Wt. %N Tons N manure 2.0 T 2.0 T 4.5% 0.09

Horse Urea 0.1 T 0.1 T 44.0% 0.06

manure 80 T 50 T 1.2% 0.6 T Potash 0.2 T 0.2 T 0.0% 0.00
Poultry Gypsum 1.0 T 1.0 T 0.0% 0.00
manure 7.5 T 6.0 T 4% 0.24 T
29.5 0.49÷29.5=1.66
Brewers
Grains 2.5 T 2.5 T 4% 0.1 T Horse Manure-synthetic Blend
Gypsum 1.25 T 1.25 T 0 0
III. Suggested watering procedures during composting:
59.75
T 0.94÷59.75=1.57% 1. Add as much water as possible without run off during
pre-wet conditioning or during the first two turns.
Horse manure pile 2. Avoid adding too much water early during Phase I,
always be able to control moisture.
 3. Add only enough during next turn or turns to wet dry
spots.
4. Bring up compost moisture to desired water content by
adequate watering just before filling.
5. During pre-wet it is advisable to flip or turn the
compost every day. After the rick or pile is built, the
compost should be turn every other day unless pile
temperatures have not peaked.
IV. Changes in organic matter, carbohydrates and nitrogen
during mushroom composting.
1. Soluble carbohydrates are simply adsorbed by the
micro-organisms and it is converted into new living mater
or provides energy for the cells.
2. As these micro-organism grow energy in the form of
heat is released.
3. As the pile heats to temperature above 150o F the
activities occurring within the pile change from biological
to chemical reactions.
4. It is at these higher temperatures that carmelization
takes place. Carmelization is the process where water is
eliminated from the carbohydrates and carbon is
concentrated. This process can be compared to boiling sap
down to make maple sugar.
V. Phase I is considered complete when as soon as the raw
ingredients become pliable and are capable of holding water,
the odor of ammonia is sharp and the dark brown color
indicates carmelization and browning reactions have occurred.
1. Moisture content at filling should be 70-73%. Water
should drip from compost squeezed in the hand. But a
good rule of thumb to follow is: the longer, greener or
more coarse the compost then more moisture it can take.
The shorter, more mature or dense the compost the less
water it should have.
2. The shorter or wetter the compost, the more loosely it
should be filled into the beds or trays. The longer or
greener the compost, the more it can be firmed into the
beds.
3. Attempt to fill uniformly in both depth and compaction.
4. Edges or sideboards should be packed slightly tighter,
whereas the center should remain looser.
VI. Phase II composting has two objectives:
1. Pasteurization - elimination of undesirable insect pest,
microbes and pathogens.
2. Conditioning - Creation of specific food for the
mushroom and creating a selective and suppressive
compost to favor the growth of the mushroom.
VII. Insure adequate ventilation during Phase II. When in
doubt, ventilate. A flame should be burn at all times.
1. The higher the nitrogen content of compost, the greener
the compost or the more dry weight at filling time, the
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greater the ventilation required.
2. When outside temperature is high as in summer or early
fall, more ventilation is required than when Phase II
occurs during the cold winter weather. This is especially
important when the grower does not have a forced air
ventilation system.
VIII. During Phase II keep compost in the temperature range
where microorganisms grow best (115-140o F).
1. Microbes convert ammonia and ammonia containing
salts into protein and other nitrogen compounds the
mushroom uses for food.
2. The growth of these microbes depends on having the
available food, adequate moisture, sufficient oxygen and
suitable temperature. A shortage of one of these
requirements will limit growth and often results in
incomplete conditioning.
IX. Heat up (pasteurization) for insect kill early in Phase II
(perhaps 1-4 days after filling) so as to avoid a second heating
cycle of the compost.
1. A good indication that the compost is ready to
pasteurized, is the subsiding of microbial activity, which
is indicated by a decrease in compost temperature at the
same air temperature.
X. After pasteurization slowly lower compost through the
temperature ranges of the microorganisms. A general rule is to
lower compost temperature no more than 4-5o F. per day.
1. Provided that enough food, water and oxygen the
microbes will continue to grow.
2. Different microbes use different compounds and grow
at different temperatures. Therefore it is important to
make sure all areas of the beds and room gradually drop
through all temperatures ranges.
3. Thermophillic fungi grow at lower temperatures and are
important because they are able to grow into denser areas
of compost.
XI. Composting is considered compete when no trace of
ammonia odor can be detected and the compost has a uniform
flecking of white colonies of actinomycetes, called fire-fang.
1. Compost should have less than 0.1 ppm of ammonia
and the N content on a dry wt. basis should be in the range
of 2.0 to 2.5.
Prepared by David M. Beyer, Penn State
Contact Information
David Meigs Beyer
Professor Plant Pathology
dmb8@psu.edu
814-863-7059
Substrate Preparation for White Button Mushrooms
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