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Dillsburg, PA

I got three yards of mushroom compost that is totally broken down. The color is very black which i would assume is good. What is in this soil that makes it so black. Stupid question I guess but just curious. thanks, Jeff

12/13/2004 8:33:48 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It's decayed Sphagnum Peat & Horse manure I think. But maybe different mushroom farmers use different media? It stays in the dark too so the sun hasn't knocked the color out.

Beware salts. Have a soluble salts & potash test done on it so you'll know how much if any gypsum to use. You may have to request the lab provide a recommendation to correct. Contact them first so you both know what test is to be ordered.

12/13/2004 3:02:46 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Jeff, I asked a large local mushroom farmer what exactly was in his mushroom manure/compost and he advised me the following;

Horse manure (mostly from local racetracks), wheat straw, peat moss, gypsum and lime.

Mixture is used once for a crop of mushrooms and then further composted before being re-sold.

Tremor is correct that if in doubt, have it checked at a lab.

12/14/2004 11:55:18 PM

Dillsburg, PA

Thanks guys.

12/16/2004 8:41:01 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Mushroom manure varies from place to place. It used to contain lots of horse manure but when people started using sawdust in their horse stalls, there was less available, particularly from places like race tracks. Sawdust is not good for growing mushrooms due to its high carbon content. Around here there are also ground up corn cobs in the mushroom manure. Mushroom manure is high in organic matter and is usually well composted. Its nutrient value does vary from place to place and, as noted, the salt content may be high.

12/16/2004 9:06:08 AM

Ga.

Here the mushroom compost has chicken manure in it..Hot stuff,,but added 3 yrds yr I grew my 400...No burn what so ever..

12/19/2004 9:45:32 AM

Montoursville, PA

It depends, on what kind, of mushrooms, are being grown as to what the partially composted components may be. I just received one, of those mushroom growing kits. The block medium is largely sawdust and wood chips. It is not or was not composted at all when received. The fungi development is what will start composting the medium.

Reading the literature that comes with the kit I can clearly see that there could be as many different medium beds for mushrooms as there are mushrooms.

However.....compost is compost. If it is only partially composted we may need, to wonder, what is there. If it is fully composted you have humus very near to 7.0 PH. with about the same amount, of salts, as would be expected by agressive use, of any manure.

The composting process, in the mushroom houses is anerobic. Running this to and through your own aerobic management at 120 - 150 degrees, for several days, will make a better higher valued compost. If one elects, to go straight, to the patch, with unknown factors the patch's biological machine must finish the job. The direct, to the patch route, may be, of some concern, but not one that most patches can not handle. If there is ample working biological factors alive and well, in the patch, the job, of adjusting, to a large dose, of mushroom medium waste, is likely completed within a month or two.

Patches that are minimum humus and just being started could not be expected to receive and convert a large amount of anything quickly. This is why many advisements call for fall applications, of additions, to the patch...for all of us. Yep...and till it in the fall too! The fall applications being tilled and largely converted to humus will be ready to receive the cover crop greens and quickly convert them to the nitrogen you need.

12/26/2004 11:18:55 AM