Synthetic fertilization can increase maize yields, but also cause environmental impacts, as well as increasing production costs and food security risks. Sun mushroom (Agaricus subrufescens) is an important Brazilian fungus used to generate large amounts of spent mushroom substrate. This residue can be used for maize fertilization, but little is known about its ideal application rates to reduce maize dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of a maize crop under different combinations of synthetic fertilizers and two different spent mushroom substrate doses. The experiment was carried out in pots and evaluated maize germinate and biometric parameters, as well as soil and leaf chemical characteristics. The results showed that residue application increased maize germination and Emergence Speed Index. Regarding the maize biometric parameters, height, stem diameter, shoot fresh and dry masses, and leaf area were superior for residue with synthetic fertilization at sowing only at higher doses. Moreover, residue with synthetic fertilization at sowing proved to be more relevant for maize growth according to canonical discriminant analysis. In terms of nutrients, the use of spent mushroom substrate increased significantly leaf P, K, and S levels and mainly K content in the soil, justifying non-application at maize topdressing.

The shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) is globally valued for its nutrition and medicinal properties. New technologies aim to increase production with less environmental impact, considering materials such as charcoal for substrate enrichment. This manuscript evaluated the effect of fine charcoal (FC) on the substrate formulation of two L. edodes strains (LED 20/11 and LED 20/12). The substrate consisted of 72% eucalyptus sawdust, 12.5% rice bran, 12.5% wheat bran, and 3% calcium carbonate (control treatment without charcoal). Treatments with FC proportionally reduced the use of sawdust, with doses of 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, and 16% (relative to the substrate material). Yield, mushroom number, and mushroom weight were evaluated. The concentration of FC significantly affected the parameters analyzed, especially at the 4% dose. A negative correlation between mushroom number and weight was observed. For yield, the control treatment and the lowest dose of FC (1%) had the highest yields for the first harvest. Strain LED 20/12 showed lower yield variability due to the percentage of FC applied to the substrate. The incorporation of FC into the substrate for shiitake cultivation demonstrates efficacy; however, both the concentration and strain used are limiting factors for its applicability.

In the present work, the effect of the cultivation process, in the field and under a controlled environment, on biochemical parameters by using commercial strains of A. subrufescens were evaluated. The results obtained revealed that the strains cultivated in the field presented higher levels for most of the parameters evaluated (organic acids (20.5–48.0 g/100 g dw), tocopherols (107.0–198.6 µg/100 g dw), and phenolic acids and related compounds (245.2–359.0 µg/100 g dw and 10.6–23.7 µg/100 g dw, respectively)), except for the carbohydrates (53.4–72.6 g/100 g dw), energetic value (373–380 Kcal/100 g dw), and total free sugars (28.8–43.1 g/100 g dw), parameters in which the strains grown in a controlled environment present better results. For both cultivation systems, similar results were obtained regarding saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These data contribute to the knowledge and highlight the characterized strains and the cultivation process, which can be used to obtain ingredients with potential applicability as a source of functional compounds.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the water supply method in the cultivation of button mushroom. The strains used were ABI 18/02, ABI 18/04, ABI 19/03, and ABI 11/19. An analysis of the ITS 1 + 2 regions, widely used as a fungal barcode, was performed in order to assess the genetics. The compost was packed in 35 × 50 cm plastic boxes with 10.5 kg m⁻², and the inoculum was added (1% in relation to the compost weight). Before the addition of the casing layer, in half of the boxes, 25 L m⁻² of water was added directly to the colonized compost, resulting in the treatment of the water added to the compost. The yield, number, and weight of the mushrooms were analyzed. A phylogenetic tree for the A. bisporus strains based on ITS sequences confirms a close genetic relationship among the different collections of this species, and additional molecular markers are required to distinguish genotypes related to superior agronomic traits. The water management methods presented similar yields, except for one strain (ABI 18/04). The ABI 18/02 and 11/019 strains were more efficient when considering the method of adding water to the compost. This study suggests that the treatment of water added to the substrate is an alternative tool for reducing the application time and labor involved and as a control treatment to reduce water use.

This study evaluated the agronomic response of Agaricus bisporus strains supplemented with various formulations containing soybean meal and peanut grain residue, which has traces of aflatoxins. Six supplement formulations were developed, starting with 100% soybean meal and no peanuts and gradually increasing peanut inclusion by 10% while proportionally reducing soybean meal until reaching a 50% soybean and 50% peanut ratio. The substrate was produced using the traditional method and supplemented at two points: during inoculation and when adding the cover layer. The strains ABI 22/01 and ABI 22/02 were utilized. After the supplementation and incubation periods in a controlled environment (19 ± 2 °C and 85 ± 5% humidity), the fungus was cultivated. Three production cycles were conducted, evaluating yield, weight, number of mushrooms, biological efficiency, and precocity. The concentrations of aflatoxins in the supplements and mushrooms were determined, along with the nutritional characterization of the substrate and supplements. The inclusion of up to 30% peanuts in the supplement formulation was beneficial for yield, particularly for ABI 22/01. The formulation with 80% soybean meal and 20% peanuts resulted in a 53% yield increase compared to the control. Traces of aflatoxin were found in the supplement but not in the mushrooms.

Cultivating crops in post-harvest areas of sun mushrooms presents an innovative alternative to reduce reliance on mineral fertilizers. Advances in crop cultivation in these areas could make this a sustainable solution for enhancing food security. We evaluated maize cultivation in a sun mushroom post-harvest area, focusing on soil and leaf macronutrient composition, yield factors, and economic benefits. Four management practices were tested: a post-harvest area without mineral fertilization (SMS); a post-harvest area with fertilization at sowing (SMS + S); a post-harvest area with fertilization at sowing and topdressing (SMS + S + TD); and a control area with standard mineral fertilization. The SMS treatment maintained adequate soil pH and electrical conductivity, and in the first crop, increased soil P, Ca, and Mg levels by 5%, 140%, and 23%, respectively, without significantly affecting yield compared to the control. However, nutrient absorption faced challenges due to a nutritional imbalance of Ca/Mg. In the second crop, SMS + S + TD was crucial for higher yields (up to 6500 kg ha⁻¹) and showed similarity to the control in a Nearest Neighbor Analysis, particularly in leaf N content. Regarding the economic benefits, SMS reduced mineral fertilization in the first crop, increasing the net benefit by up to 380%, while in the second crop, topdressing became indispensable for the SMS area, with SMS + S + TD generating the greatest net benefit.