Development of peat-free cover soils for champignons and other cultivated mushrooms
17. September 2024
For champignons and other compost-cultivated mushrooms, mainly 85 % peat-containing imported cover soils (approx. 55,000 t/a) from Poland and the Netherlands are used. Peat is only available in limited quantities, mainly for nature conservation reasons, and will no longer be available for mushroom cultivation from 2030.
The use of biological residues from regional agriculture and forestry as peat substitutes and the recycling of removed substrates will make a considerable contribution to conserving peat as a natural resource and reducing climate-damaging gases from peat extraction. This goal is being pursued as part of the FNR joint project “MykoDeck” by the three project partners Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS), LAV Technische Dienste GmbH & Co. KG and the Institute of Wood Technology Dresden (IHD).
From the 45 raw and residual materials selected and examined by IKTS and LAV, 120 different mixtures were specifically produced and evaluated at the IHD. In extensive IHD laboratory tests, 12 formulations for peat-free cover soils were developed and evaluated (Fig. 1). Finally, three IHD formulations were tested in field trials with the mushroom substrates from Pilzhof Pilzsubstrat Wallhausen GmbH. A formulation with only 50 % peat has already been successfully tested in five farms with brown champignons; the results with two further formulations without peat and with white champignons, which were carried out at ReiPiKo Reitzenhainer Pilzkorb GmbH (Fig. 2), are also very promising: https://www.umdis.org/in-germany-scientists-developed-casing-soil-without-peat-that-gives-better-yields-is-it-so/.
According to results to date, 50 % to 100 % peat-free mushroom production is possible under certain conditions. Despite positive results, negative findings/problems have also been identified that still need to be clarified. The project partners are currently preparing a new model and demonstration project in order to guarantee a high safety standard and the best quality of the peat-free cover soil developed for mushroom cultivation.
The contact person at the IHD is: Dipl.- Ing. Sc. Natalie Rangno; Tel. +49-351-4662-242; natalie.rangno@ihd-dresden.de
A film about the FNR project MykoDeck can now also be found in the ARD media library (in German): alles wissen: Champignonzucht – Gibt es Alternative zu Torf? - hier anschauen (ardmediathek.de)