2002-2004 Specialty Crops Research Program
University of California

Principal Investigators: Maria de la Fuente

Project title: Developing technology to grow mushrooms from recycled urban waste and food scraps and paper waste (vermicompost).

Mushroom production in Santa Clara County represented $42 million gross revenue in 2001. University of California Cooperative Extension Santa Clara County (UCCE-SCL) and the mushroom growers of the area are working closely to develop production systems that are economically feasible and are sustainable in a social, economical, and environmental manner. UCCE-SCL has been exploring alternative substrate materials for mushroom cultivation. In preliminary research UCCE-SCL determined that composted yard trimmings and composted wood-overs have high potential as substrate-base for the production of Pleurotus pulmonarius and P. ostreatus (oyster mushrooms). UCCE-SCL, while testing vermicompost technology, determined that vermicompost produced from food and paper waste has characteristics that may make it suitable as casing material in white button mushroom production. Peat moss is the main material used as casing layer in commercial production. We propose to research vermicompost to substitute peat moss as casing material in mushroom production, so we can offer a substitute to a costly, “non-native” and “non-renewable” product, with the advantage that growers can produce it “on-farm” using their own feedstock, and implementing either a mid-scale vermicomposting unit technology, or a modular, self contained unit.

In a collaborative effort UCCE-SCL, Royal Oaks Mushrooms, Countryside Mushrooms, BFI Organics Division, Z-Best/Zanker Road Landfill, CIWMB, City of San Jose Environmental Services Department, County of Santa Clara Integrated Waste Management Program, and UC-BAREC propose to:

1. Evaluate the agricultural and economic potential of substrate formulas based on vermicompost, composted wood-overs, and other alternative materials in the commercial production of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.).

2. Evaluate the agricultural and economic potential of vermicompost as the casing layer in the production of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).

3. Determine the economic efficiency of each production method: current best practices (baseline) versus incorporating municipal and other organic inputs.

4. Disseminate the findings through various media: open field days, workshops, publication of scientific and popular articles, conferences, poster presentations, and web sites.

5. Organize workshops and provide educational materials on recycling, composting and vermicomposting for workers at growers’ facilities.

The research will consist of two independent experiments:

1. Trials to test formulas based on vermicompost and composted wood-overs as substrate-based for oyster mushroom production, with experiments carried out at Countryside Mushrooms and at UC-BAREC.

2. Trials to test vermicompost as peat moss substitute for the casing material, with experiments carried out at Royal Oaks Mushrooms and Countryside Mushrooms facilities. Vermicompost will be produced in existing windrows at UC-BAREC and with a self-contained, modular unit (BioSystem 500®) sponsored by City of San Jose. For each production system we will compare experimental to standard commercial procedures. We will conduct economic analysis comparing cost and revenue differences between current best practices methods and methods incorporating municipal organic inputs.

UCCE, in coordination with cooperators will: develop and disseminate educational materials, preliminary findings, and final results of the project through publications, presentations in conferences, open field days, and workshops; organize and host at least one field day/year; organize workshops and provide educational materials on recycling, composting and vermicomposting to workers at growers’ facilities.