Comparative evaluation of casing mixtures on the yield potential of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus).

In order to study the effect of different casing mixtures on the growth and yield of common button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) an experiment was carried out with seven casing mixture formulations. Maximum sporophore (12.33) were obtained by casing mixture of CCP + VC + FYM + SD + Sand and minimum sporophore ( 5.67) were obtained on casing mixture CCP + FYM. The highest yield of first flush was obtained from the casing mixture of CCP + VC + FYM + SD + Sand (270.33 g) followed by CCP + FYM + SD, VC + FYM, VC + SD + FYM + Sand and CCP + VC + Sand ( 266.67, 216.67, 213.33 and 196.67), respectively. Casing mixture CCP + VC + FYM + SD + Sand recorded the highest yield (320 g) whereas CCP + FYM ( 250 g) showed lowest yield in the harvesting of second flush. The total highest yield (1112.26 g) was obtained from casing mixture, CCP + VC + FYM + SD + Sand and lowest yield (736.67 g) from CCP + FYM. Casing mixture of CCP + FYM + SD recorded second highest yield (1033.67 g).Finally all the casing materials were evaluated for their effect on growth parameters and yield of Agaricus bisporus. Among the different casing mixtures tested CCP + VC + FYM + SD + Sand and CCP + FYM + SD were found to be better in yield when compared to other casing mixtures. These studies will help to mushroom growers for selecting the most suitable casing materials for better growth behaviour and optimum yield potential of common button mushroom (A. bisporus) grown in our country.