Composting Exhausted Wastes of Mushroom Cultivation: Maturity Parameters and Organic Matter Stabilization

The aim of this work was to study the parameters of the composting process of organic wastes originated from mushroom production industry. To accomplish these objectives three piles (P1, P2 and P3) obtained with a spent mushroom substrate (SMS) with different proportions of wheat straw (WS) and urea were composted for 90 days in a static-pile system with continuous monitoring of the process. Samples from each pile were periodically taken to assess physico-chemical properties (pH, E.C., TOC, N, C/N ratio), organic matter and humification parameters. The comparative examination of results obtained for original substrates and final composts showed an increased stability and maturation degree of the organic matter, especially for the piles with a higher proportion of straw. All the piles achieved the stabilization and maturity levels required for a safe application of compost as a soil organic amendment. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________