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Sustainable Recycling of Mushroom Residue as an Effective Substitute for Cotton Hull Waste in Volvariella volvacea Cultivation: Evidence from Physicochemical and Microbiome Analyses

Summary

This research shows that mushroom waste left over from growing one type of mushroom can be recycled to grow another type of mushroom, called straw mushroom. The recycled mushroom waste works just as well as the traditional cotton hull material currently used, but costs much less money. By analyzing the bacteria and chemical changes during the composting process, scientists found that beneficial bacteria break down the organic matter effectively, making this recycling method both environmentally friendly and economically practical.

Background

Mushroom residue (MR) is extensively produced during industrialized mushroom cultivation, generating approximately 64 million tons globally each year. Cotton hull waste (CW) is commonly used as a substrate for Volvariella volvacea cultivation in China, but recycling MR as an alternative substrate could be more sustainable and economical.

Objective

This study investigated whether mushroom residue from Lyophyllum decastes could effectively substitute for cotton hull waste in V. volvacea cultivation by comparing physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, bacterial communities, and metabolic functions during substrate fermentation.

Results

The MR formula demonstrated comparable biological efficiency to CW (no significant difference) while being substantially cheaper (75 CNY/t vs 1200 CNY/t). Xylanase production was higher in MR, while cellulase was higher in CW. Bacterial community composition shifted during fermentation, with Bacillota becoming dominant in MR and Pseudomonadota initially dominant in CW, while carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism remained active throughout.

Conclusion

Mushroom residue is an equally effective and more economical substitute for cotton hull waste in V. volvacea cultivation. Microbial communities, particularly Bacillota, Pseudomonadota, and Bacteroidota, drive metabolic pathways essential for substrate decomposition, demonstrating that MR recycling is both a sustainable and cost-effective solution.
  • Published in:Microorganisms,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.3390/microorganisms13102372, PMID: 41156834
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