A Cascade Approach to Sustainable Agriculture: From Mushroom Mycelium to Lettuce Harvest

Author: mycolabadmin
2024-09-20
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Summary

This research demonstrates an innovative approach to sustainable farming by connecting mushroom and lettuce production in a circular system. The study shows how waste material from mushroom growing can be repurposed for lettuce cultivation, creating an efficient and environmentally friendly farming method. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides small farmers with a cost-effective way to grow both mushrooms and vegetables • Reduces agricultural waste by recycling mushroom growing materials • Offers a sustainable method for producing healthy food locally • Demonstrates how circular farming practices can benefit small-scale agriculture • Shows potential for reducing dependency on commercial fertilizers

Background

Sustainable agriculture involves adopting best practices in food production to promote environmental and economic sustainability, with a primary focus on utilizing organic residues to increase yield, diversify production, and reduce costs. Family farming plays a crucial role in sustainability by promoting agricultural practices with minimized environmental impacts while contributing to crop diversity and food security.

Objective

To investigate different substrates for Hypsizygus ulmarius mushroom production and utilize its residual substrate to develop formulations for lettuce seedling growth and subsequent greenhouse cultivation. The study aimed to explore new technologies for integrated mushroom and lettuce production systems beneficial for family farming.

Results

The highest mushroom yields were observed with substrate S1, followed by S2, with productivities of 21.77% and 15.75% respectively. Substrates with higher carbon/nitrogen ratios (around 66:1) resulted in higher yields. For lettuce seedling production, SMS showed lower efficiency compared to commercial substrate Carolina Soil®. However, after transplanting, formulations containing SMS showed superior results in almost all evaluated parameters.

Conclusion

The optimal formulation for H. ulmarius production was the one with the lowest bran content and high C/N ratio. While SMS was less effective for lettuce seedling production, it demonstrated superior results in transplanted seedling establishment. The integrated production cycle involving both crops proved efficient and beneficial for small producers.

Published in:Science of The Total Environment,
Study Type:Experimental Research,
Source: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173976