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Abstract: This study tested the current assumption that composting formulations provide sufficient levels of micronutrients for optimum mushroom yield. Three sets of experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of adding a micronutrient-rich fertilizer, Micromax, to the compost on yield and quality of fresh mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus. In the first series of experiments involving five crops, average yield increases of 1, 4.9 and 4.5%, compared to the control, were achieved as a result of adding 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75% Micromax at casing, respectively. The yield increases were not statistically significant (P<0.05) due to large variability between crops and low number of replications. Treatments did not significantly affect the whiteness of fresh mushrooms. The second series of experiments involving four crops incorporated 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75% Micromax at spawning. Changes in composting practices caused difficulties in mixing the micronutrients into the compost that apparently compromised the results. Subsequent experiments, where 0.75% Micromax was hand mixed into the compost at spawning, resulted in an average yield increase of 14.1%. In general, the results of this study suggested that the level of micronutrients in the compost may sometimes be inadequate.
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