Mushroom is a sort of fungus that is often cultivated on the industrial scale, due to its edible quality. Therefore, fertilizers need to be added for increasing the fertility of the soil and high-quality organic mushroom compost is the best choice for this purpose. This fertilizer is also known as spent or unused mushroom composting materials. It is the leftover fertilizer used in mushroom cultivation, which retains all required nutrients and is extremely beneficial for plants. Thus, it is available at much cheaper prices and also preferred for many other helpful qualities.
Necessary Knowledge Regarding The Uses Of Mushroom Compost
Mushroom Compost |
- Ingredients – Since organic fertilizer is known to be best for healthy growth of all kinds of plants, the mushroom compost is known to be the best one for its slow release quality. It is made of wheat straw, hay, cobs of corn, rice hulls, and manure obtained from poultry and horses. The spent form of this compost also contains mushroom spores that are artificially mixed, for faster growth of mushrooms. The fertilizer mixture is then subjected to steam pasteurization, to eliminate all unhealthy particles. Moreover, several other organic and chemical materials are also added to this fertilizer, among which peat moss, soybean meal, gypsum, and lime are the most important ones. Moss and gypsum are layered over this compost mixture while processing it for 3 – 4 weeks.
- Techniques of using – First of all, the mushroom compost is spread freely over the soil. Then the ground may be tilted well to enter this fertilizer into 10 – 30 cm depth from topmost soil layer. This compost is left undisturbed in the soil for a week so that it mixes totally with the soil particles. Now the soil is ready for planting seeds or saplings, which need to be watered sufficiently in the initial stage of growth.
Prime Reasons For Using Mushroom Compost For Growing Plants
Mushroom Compost |
- All kinds of flowering plants, shrubs, herbs, and other vegetations need proper nutrition. Mushroom compost provides slow and steady nourishment to the plants and trees of the garden. Moreover, this fertilizer boosts the growth of helpful bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms in the soil, which further aid in the health of all plants, including grasses.
- This organic compost has the capacity of holding large amounts of water, which can extend up to 70% of the actual weight of this fertilizer. Thus, the plants do not suffer from dehydration, even if not watered for a long time. Since the soil enriched with this organic fertilizer can retain lots of moisture, plants do not suffer due to weather changes.
- Since all types of plants can be nourished by introducing mushroom compost deep into the soil, the cultivated edible plant products do not contain any trace of harmful chemicals. There is no need of adding pesticide to this soil, as this organic compost is specially treated to prevent the growth of all kinds of pests and weeds. Therefore, the fruits and vegetable grown on this soil are perfectly healthy for all creatures. Also, the gardeners do not need to worry about cutting off weeds or eliminating pests from their plants.
- As water enters faster into the soil mixed with this compost, there is no threat of water accumulation even during heavy rainfall. Thus, the plant roots are saved from rotting due to the waterlogged condition in the garden. Moreover, this fertilizer can be used in all types of clay or chalky soils, where normally water cannot penetrate very easily.
Hence, the modern gardeners prefer to buy this mushroom compost for very cheap prices from the market. Since there is no foul smell of this fertilizer, it is convenient for them to use it with their hands