Abstract The present work evaluated the agronomic behavior of species and varieties of Pleurotus submitted or not to the scratching technique. The cultivated species/varieties were Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus ostreatus var. Florida, and Pleurotus djamor, where half of the treatments were scratched before the first and second flushes, while the rest were only scratched before the second flush. Yield (%), biological efficiency (%), weight of mushroom (g) and number of mushrooms (uni) were evaluated. It was observed that scratching harmed the mushroom weight for P. ostreatus, where the treatment without scratching produced significantly higher values, in the first harvest flush. On the other hand, scratching favored yield and the number of mushrooms for P. djamor. When the species are compared, it is noted that P. ostreatus obtained a lower yield, which was also reflected in the biological efficiency. P. djamor stood out with a large number of mushrooms, statistically higher than the other species, on the other hand, producing mushrooms of low weight of mushroom. The use of the scratched technique is not recommended for the conditions used in the work, due to the increase in labor and loss of mushroom weight.

ABSTRACT The use of hybrids strains of known origin in mushroom cultivation is not very common in Brazil. Likewise, the practice of supplementation of compost is not applied. Supplementation of compost in mushroom cultivation consists in the addition at the end of Phase II composting process. The aim of the research is the evaluation of two doses of a commercial supplement of nutritious substances in two different hybrid mushroom strains. Two crop cycles were conducted. Yields are positively affected as a result of supplementation, significantly with the smooth white hybrid strain. This strain provides more fruiting bodies and higher yields than the large off-white hybrid type, but showed smaller mushrooms. Qualitative production parameters are not affected as a result of supplementation. This practice leads to moderate increases in the temperature of the compost during the vegetative growth phase. The results confirm the interest of supplementing the compost in order to improve the productivity.

RESUMEN La utilización de variedades híbridas de Agaricus bisporus de origen conocido no es una práctica habitual en los cultivos de Brasil. Por otro lado, tampoco se encuentra establecida la práctica de la suplementación, consistente en la adición al compost de sustancias nutritivas al final de la fase II del proceso de compostaje. El objetivo del presente trabajo es el estudio del efecto sobre la producción, en cultivos de champiñón en condiciones controladas, de la aplicación al compost de dos dosis de un suplemento comercial utilizando dos variedades híbridas de champiñón diferentes. Se han llevado a cabo para ello dos ciclos de cultivo. Los rendimientos se ven positivamente afectados como consecuencia de la suplementación, de manera significativa con la variedad del tipo híbrido blanco liso. Esta variedad proporciona mayor número de carpóforos y mayores rendimientos que la del tipo híbrido blanco grueso, aunque los champiñones presentaron menor tamaño. Los parámetros de producción cualitativos no han visto afectados como consecuencia de la suplementación. Esta práctica supone incrementos moderados de la temperatura del compost durante la fase de crecimiento vegetativo. Los resultados obtenidos confirman el interés de la suplementación del compost para aumentar la productividad.

RESUMO. A farinha de amêndoa desengordurada (DAM) é um resíduo de biomassa inútil obtido após extração de óleo. O substrato designado para o cultivo de cogumelos é formulado através de um processo de compostagem controlado utilizando subprodutos agrícolas (cama de frango e palha de trigo). Este trabalho demosntra o potencial da DAM como um suplemento de composto eficiente para o cultivo das espécies Agaricus bisporus (J.E. Lange) Imbach e Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. A suplementação durante o cultivo de A. bisporus resulta em cogumelos maiores com textura firme e elevado teor de matéria seca e proteína, em comparação com o substrato não suplementado. Em P. ostreatus, a suplementação utilizando a dosagem de 15 g kg-1 proporcionou um aumentono rendimento para 31,8%, em comparação com o substrato nãosuplementado. A suplementação com DAM proporcionou rendimento equivalente ou melhor do que os suplementos comerciais. Portanto, a técnica desenvolvida avaliou o bom potencial agronômico para aplicação de DAM na escala comercial em culturas de P. ostreatus, agregando valor a um subproduto orgânico sem valor.

ABSTRACT. Defatted almond meal (DAM) is an useless biomass waste obtained after oil extraction. The substrate designed for mushroom cultivation is achieved through a controlled composting process from agricultural by-products (chicken manure and wheat straw). This work shows the potential of DAM as efficient compost supplement for culturing the species Agaricus bisporus (J.E. Lange) Imbach and Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. Supplementation during A. bisporus cultivation results in larger mushrooms with a firmer texture and higher dry matter and protein contents in comparing with the non-supplemented substrate. In P. ostreatus, supplementation at a dosage of 15 g kg-1 provided a yield improvement up to 31.8%, compared to the control without supplement. The supplementation with DAM supposed equivalent or better yield than the commercial supplements. Therefore, the technique developed assessed good agronomic potential for application of DAM at the commercial scale in P. ostreatus cultures, adding value to a worthless organic by-product.

The objective of this work was to describe the behavior of pine bark, coconut fiber, and spent mushroom substrate, as casing layers, in the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation. After the physical, chemical and biological characterization of these casing layers, qualitative and quantitative yield parameters were evaluated in a mushroom crop cycle with four crops. The lower porosity and water retention capacity of the mineral soil without additives and the high eletrical conductivity of the post culture substrate of the mushroom used, associated with nutrient supplementation, are the determinant factors of the different agronomical behavior observed. The casing mixtures influenced mushroom yield, number of mushrooms, biological efficiency, production rate, and earliness. The best total yield was obtained using mineral soil mixed with supplemented coconut fiber. The evaluated casing layers can be used commercially for button mushroom production.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir el comportamiento de la corteza de pino, de la fibra de coco y del sustrato postcultivo, como capas de cobertura, en el cultivo del champiñón (Agaricus bisporus). Tras la caracterización física, química y biológica de las capas de cobertura, se evaluaron los parámetros de producción cualitativos y cuantitativos, en un ciclo de cultivo de champiñón con cuatro floradas. La menor porosidad y capacidad de retención de agua del suelo mineral, sin aditivos, y la alta conductividad eléctrica del sustrato postcultivo del champiñón utilizado, asociado a la suplementación nutritiva, son los factores determinantes en el diferente comportamiento agronómico observado. Las mezclas de cobertura influenciaron el rendimiento y el número de champiñones, la eficiencia biológica, la tasa de producción y la precocidad. El mejor rendimiento total se obtuvo con la mezcla de suelo mineral y fibra de coco suplementado. Las capas de coberturas evaluadas pueden ser utilizadas comercialmente para la producción de champiñón.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic behaviour of six mixtures of casing, prepared from spent mushroom substrate (SMS), in new production cycles of Agaricus bisporus. The results obtained showed the feasibility of reuse of the SMS in new cultivation cycles when used alone by submitting it to a washing process to remove soluble salts, or mixed with other materials of low conductivity, such as Sphagnum peat or coconut fiber pith. The high values of biological efficiency recorded up to 100 kg kg-1 compost, similar to that of the controls, and the same high values observed in the dry matter content of the mushrooms harvested with some of the new casing layers prepared must be highlighted. The suggested use for SMS is an important alternative to consider, in order to replace soils and other organic substrates typically used as casing, with the added advantages of lowering the production costs and decreasing the environmental impact.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el comportamiento agronómico de seis mezclas de cobertura, elaboradas a partir de sustrato postcultivo del champiñón Agaricus bisporus, en nuevos ciclos de cultivo. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron la viabilidad de la reintroducción del sustrato en nuevos ciclos de cultivo, ya sea como material de base único, si se somete a un proceso de lavado para eliminar sales solubles, o bien mezclado con otros materiales de baja conductividad, como es el caso de la turba rubia o la fibra de coco. Se destacan los altos valores de eficiencia biológica registrados, que llegaron hasta los 100 kg kg-1 de compost, similares a los proporcionados por los testigos, y los altos valores relativos observados (con respecto a los testigos) en el contenido en materia seca de los carpóforos cosechados con algunas de las nuevas coberturas elaboradas. Esta reutilización del compost constituye una alternativa interesante, con vistas a reemplazar a las tierras y a los sustratos orgánicos utilizados habitualmente como cobertura, con la doble ventaja de disminuir los costos de elaboración y el impacto ambiental.