Evaluation of vermicompost and peat moss on morphological and quantification indices of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

Casing material is very important element for size and yield of mushroom. To study the replacement of peat moss by vermicompost from animal resource, this research was conducted with 3 replications as CRD basis. Treatments were T1: vermicompost+ perlite peat (1:1:2), T2: vermicompost+ perlite+ peat (2:1:1), T3: vermicompost+ perlite+ peat (3:0.5:0.5), T4: vermicompost+ peat (2:2), T5: vermicompost+ peat (1:3), T6: vermicompost+ peat (3:1), T7: vermicompost+ perlite (2:2), T8: control, T9: peat from Netherlands. After growth of mushroom, they separated in 3 groups: 1-mushroom with high quality (grade 1), 2-mushroom that have membrane abnormality and then leasers marketable than grade 1 (grade 2). 3-mushroom have defects and no marketable (grade 3). After harvesting, characters contain of yield and number of mushroom grade1, 2 and 3, protein percentage, humidity percentage, spore diameter measured. Results showed that T2 (vermicompost + perlite +peat) and T9 (Netherlands peat) had the most and least amount of mushroom grade1 respectively. T1and T7 had most and least of mushroom grade2. T3 had the most of protein content, also contained high amount of number and yield of mushroom, then this treat introduced the best treatment. It seems that for high addition character in vermicompost particles, can no use high amount of this treatment in replication with peat moss.