COMPOST 2
There are various supplements on the market that can increase the protein content (nitrogen) of the compost.
Compost A and B have an identical percentage of moisture (64%) and nitrogen (2.4%). However if you calculate the C/N ratio, the figure for compost A is 16.2, which is a nitrogen-poor compost. Compost B, on the other hand, has, with the same nitrogen percentage, a C/N of 13.3 and can be considered a nitrogen-rich compost.
In 100kg compost A
Dry matter Ash
Organic matter C (carbon)
N (nitrogen) C/N
2.4% 22% 36kg 8kg
28kg 14kg
0.86kg 16.2
B
Moisture 64% 64% Nitrogen Ash
2.4% 36% 36kg 13kg 23kg
11.5kg 0.86kg 13.3
The difference in organic matter content between both composts is immediately notice- able. Compost A has 5 kg more organic matter, i.e. 22%, per 100kg compost than compost B. This is however, probably not utilised, as there is too little N available. To obtain the same C/N as compost B, the nitrogen percentage in compost A would have to be increased to 2.9%.
Supplements
The nutritional content of compost is often enriched by adding soy proteins. These proteins
22 MUSHROOM BUSINESS
There must be a correct carbon, or sugar (C), balance with the nitrogen (N) for optimal results.
have a proven effect on effectiveness and safety. Supplements are added to increase the protein content (nitrogen) of the compost, and therefore give the best results with low nitrogen contents. Supplement added to compost with a normal nitrogen content can result in a production increase of 3 kg mushrooms/m2
, while with a
nitrogen-poor compost this figure can rise up to 8 kg/m2
. However, with an already nitro- gen-rich compost, supplementing is hardly worthwhile.
Phase II or III
Companies that produce phase II compost often do not use supplements when they fill this compost into the growing rooms. Their focus is on producing a nitrogen-rich compost that does not need to be corrected afterwards by a supplement. Phase II compost plants often have a longer time window in the pasteurisation schedule, so they can enrich the compost more by adding chicken manure yet still have enough time to remove the ammonia from the compost. Phase III compost plants often apply shorter pasteurisation schedules, so they can supply compost with more days of mycelium growth. This often prevents them from reaching the maximum N, otherwise they would not be able to remove all the ammonia from the compost within the available time. So this often means that the compost is a little nitrogen-poorer. However, with incubated compost this should not be a problem as supplements are usually added.
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