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Comparison of the changes in mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus ) compost during windrow and bunker stages of phase I and II
Author(s) -
SHARMA H S S,
LYONS G,
CHAMBERS J
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.2000.tb00009.x
Subject(s) - compost , agaricus bisporus , bunker , mushroom , dry matter , straw , biology , organic matter , agronomy , pulp and paper industry , botany , food science , horticulture , chemistry , ecology , coal , organic chemistry , engineering
Summary The changes in thermophilic fungi and biochemical characteristics, during windrow and bunker stages of phase I and phase II composts, were compared in this investigation. Composts prepared by the two phase I systems differed in a number of key parameters including mean straw length, population of Scytalidium thermophilum , dry matter, conductivity, nitrogen dry matter, ammonia, fibre content and ash. S. thermophilum populations in phase I composts were significantly higher in windrow compared to bunker‐composted materials as a result of the larger high temperature (65‐80°C) core in bunker treatment, which inhibited microbial activity. Assessment of the composts for loss of matter during composting has revealed that the bunker system can conserve fresh matter better than the windrow production system, possibly due to lower microbial activities during bunker composting. The productivity of the phase II composts prepared from windrow and bunker systems was compared in trials using commercial growers.