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 greater the ventilation required.
spots. 2. When outside temperature is high as in summer or early
4. Bring up compost moisture to desired water content by fall, more ventilation is required than when Phase II
adequate watering just before filling. occurs during the cold winter weather. This is especially
5. During pre-wet it is advisable to flip or turn the important when the grower does not have a forced air
compost every day. After the rick or pile is built, the ventilation system.
compost should be turn every other day unless pile
VIII. During Phase II keep compost in the temperature range
temperatures have not peaked.
where microorganisms grow best (115-140o F).
IV. Changes in organic matter, carbohydrates and nitrogen 1. Microbes convert ammonia and ammonia containing
during mushroom composting. salts into protein and other nitrogen compounds the
1. Soluble carbohydrates are simply adsorbed by the mushroom uses for food.
micro-organisms and it is converted into new living mater 2. The growth of these microbes depends on having the
or provides energy for the cells. available food, adequate moisture, sufficient oxygen and
2. As these micro-organism grow energy in the form of suitable temperature. A shortage of one of these
heat is released. requirements will limit growth and often results in
incomplete conditioning.
3. As the pile heats to temperature above 150o F the
activities occurring within the pile change from biological IX. Heat up (pasteurization) for insect kill early in Phase II
to chemical reactions. (perhaps 1-4 days after filling) so as to avoid a second heating
4. It is at these higher temperatures that carmelization cycle of the compost.
takes place. Carmelization is the process where water is 1. A good indication that the compost is ready to
eliminated from the carbohydrates and carbon is pasteurized, is the subsiding of microbial activity, which
concentrated. This process can be compared to boiling sap is indicated by a decrease in compost temperature at the
down to make maple sugar. same air temperature.
V. Phase I is considered complete when as soon as the raw X. After pasteurization slowly lower compost through the
ingredients become pliable and are capable of holding water, temperature ranges of the microorganisms. A general rule is to
the odor of ammonia is sharp and the dark brown color lower compost temperature no more than 4-5o F. per day.
indicates carmelization and browning reactions have occurred.
1. Provided that enough food, water and oxygen the
1. Moisture content at filling should be 70-73%. Water microbes will continue to grow.
should drip from compost squeezed in the hand. But a
good rule of thumb to follow is: the longer, greener or 2. Different microbes use different compounds and grow
more coarse the compost then more moisture it can take. at different temperatures. Therefore it is important to
The shorter, more mature or dense the compost the less make sure all areas of the beds and room gradually drop
water it should have. through all temperatures ranges.

2. The shorter or wetter the compost, the more loosely it 3. Thermophillic fungi grow at lower temperatures and are
should be filled into the beds or trays. The longer or important because they are able to grow into denser areas
greener the compost, the more it can be firmed into the of compost.
beds.
XI. Composting is considered compete when no trace of
3. Attempt to fill uniformly in both depth and compaction. ammonia odor can be detected and the compost has a uniform
4. Edges or sideboards should be packed slightly tighter, flecking of white colonies of actinomycetes, called fire-fang.
whereas the center should remain looser. 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
VI. Phase II composting has two objectives:
of 2.0 to 2.5.
1. Pasteurization - elimination of undesirable insect pest,
microbes and pathogens. Prepared by David M. Beyer, Penn State

2. Conditioning - Creation of specific food for the

mushroom and creating a selective and suppressive Contact Information
compost to favor the growth of the mushroom.
David Meigs Beyer
Professor Plant Pathology
VII. Insure adequate ventilation during Phase II. When in
dmb8@psu.edu
doubt, ventilate. A flame should be burn at all times.
814-863-7059
1. The higher the nitrogen content of compost, the greener
the compost or the more dry weight at filling time, the

Page 2 Substrate Preparation for White Button Mushrooms

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Page 3 Substrate Preparation for White Button Mushrooms