The utilization of spent mushroom compost applied at different rates in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill . ) seedling production

R E G U L A R A R T I C L E Ünal: Spent mushroom compost applied tomato Emir. J. Food Agric ● Vol 27 ● Issue 9 ● 2015 693 the mixture of 50% pruning waste compost +25% peat +25% spend mushroom compost and the mixture of 50% pruning waste compost +50% spent mushroom compost could be optimum cultivation media. Medina et al. (2009) used spent mushroom compost as a seedling cultivation media instead of peat in their study. They experimented the effects of 12 media prepared with spent mushroom compost added in increasing doses on three types with different salt-sensitivity (tomato, pepper and courgette). They reported that spent mushroom compost blended at the rate of 75% could be used in tomato cultivation and the use of spent mushroom compost was an eco-friendly utilization way which made important contributions to vegetable production. While the researches on the use of wastes as an alternative to peat are gaining momentum in the world, the studies to offer a solution to endangered peat resources through waste utilization are coming into prominence. In the study presented, it has been aimed to utilize spent mushroom compost in plant production and to develop alternative growth media to peat resources, which are about to extinct. MATERIALS AND METODS Materials The study was conducted in the greenhouse of Arslanbey Vocational School of Kocaeli University. Randomized parcels were organized with 3 replications according to the experimental design. 7 growing media were prepared by mixing spent mushroom compost and peat at different rates. Growing media and mixing ratios were given in Table 1. Samples of peat and spent mushroom compost made air-dried were mixed on a weight basis. In the experiment, mushroom production wastes released from the mushroom production facility at Arslanbey Vocational School being held in abeyance for 2 years and perlite and peat taken from a commercial concern were used. Some chemical properties of the materials used in the experiment were given in Table 2. Test pots were left for incubation for 10 weeks in room conditions. The media were irrigated in field capacity throughout the experiment. In order to be able to see the impact of spent mushroom compost, additional fertilization was not made. At the end of the incubation period, 3 tomato seeds were planted in each pot. Certified tomato seeds were bought from a commercial company. The seed type H-2274 was used. During the first weeks of the experiment, hypocotyl length, cotyledon length and width were measured and recorded. At the end of the experiment, seedling length, seedling root length, shoot wet weight and root wet weight were determined. Methods of analysis The analysis of pH, EC, percentage of organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and extractable Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were determined in the peat and spent mushroom compost to be added to the mixture before the incubation. In the growth media available in each pot after the harvest of plants, pH and EC were determined with pH meter and EC meter (Richard 1954) in 1:2.5 media: distilled water suspension, spent mushroom compost pH and EC were determined 1:5 distilled water suspension. Organic matter with Walkle-Black wet combustion method (Jackson 1962), total N with Kjeldahl method (Bremmer 1965), available P with NaHCO3 extraction (Olsen et al. 1954), exchangeable K with ammonium acetate method in atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Knudsen et al. 1982) and exchangeable Ca and Mg with ammonium acetate method in atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Thomas 1982). Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn extractable with DTPA were determined in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Lindsay and Norvell 1978). Heavy metals (Pb,Cd,Ni,Cr,Hg) extractable Table 1: Growing media and mixing ratios Media Mixing ratios H1 Peat (%100) H2 Spent mushroom compost (%50) Peat (%50) H3 Spent mushroom compost (%25) Peat (%75) H4 Spent mushroom compost (%75) Peat (%25) H5 Spent mushroom compost (%25) Peat (%65) Perlite (%10) H6 Spent mushroom compost (%70) Peat (%20) Perlite (%10) H7 Spent mushroom compost (%100) Table 2: Some chemical properties of experiment materials used in the research Property Peat Spent mushroom compost EC 1980,0

The utilization of spent mushroom compost applied at different rates in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedling production

INTRODUCTION
The utilization of vegetal wastes such as stalks, straw, bran and molasses generated during the agricultural product harvest and industrial processing in the agricultural production again is an environmental approach (Akyüz and Kırbağ 2009).One of the wastes to be utilized is spent mushroom compost released during fungi culture.2.5-3 kilos of wastes which cannot be used in mushroom production again remain from the production of 1 kilo of cultivated mushroom.Although fungi culture has a short past in Turkey, the amount of the mushrooms produced is increasing every year.According to the data in 2008, this amount is 26.526 tons (Şen and Yalçın 2010).
The utilization of tons of post-production waste materials as seedling cultivation media will be an alternative solution to the endangered peat resources.Peat is a natural organic matter which is about to extinct both in the world and in Turkey but is intensively used in plant production particularly in seedling cultivation.Birben et al. (1999) researched the impacts of 7 media prepared with spent mushroom compost, peat and perlite on Begonia (Begonia semperflorens) plant in their study.They declared that the mixtures of 50% spent mushroom compost + 50% peat and 25% spent mushroom compost + 50% peat + 25% perlite are the optimum media in terms of the physical properties of the media and plant development.Polat et al. (2004) researched the impacts of spent mushroom compost on the yield and quality in lettuce cultivation in their study.They stated that the implementation of 2 and 4 tons of synthetic spent mushroom compost per decare, which they applied in Autumn and Spring periods (0,1,2 and 4 ton/da), gave the best results in both periods in terms of yield.Benito et al. (2005) formed 6 different cultivation media by mixing peat, fallen leaves, sand and spent mushroom compost with the compost material they prepared with pruning wastes.They used grass (Lolium prenne L.) and cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) as test plants.As a result of the experiment, they determined that The purpose of this research was to utilize spent mushroom compost as a seedling cultivation media in vegetative production and provide an alternative to the peat sources on the edge of extinction.Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was used as a vegetative production material.In this research, 7 different growing media consisting of 100% peat, 100% spent mushroom compost and a mixture of peat + spent mushroom compost + perlite at varying rates were prepared.According to the results of the research, the values of hypocotyl length, seedling root length, shoot wet weight and root wet weight gave the best results the seedlings grown in 100% spent mushroom compost (H7) the length of cotyledon contained 25% spent mushroom compost (H5), the width of cotyledon contained 25% spent mushroom compost (H3).Statistically, there was a difference between the mixtures of different cultivation media and the hypocotyl length at a level of p<0.05.The best value of hypocotyl length was obtained as 48.00mm from H7, implementation containing 100% spent mushroom compost.According to H1 media containing 100% peat, seedling root length increased in the media which spent mushroom compost was added into and a difference at a level of p<0.05 occurred between them.The addition of spent mushroom compost into the cultivation media can be said to have had a positive impact on the quality traits of tomato seedling.
the mixture of 50% pruning waste compost +25% peat +25% spend mushroom compost and the mixture of 50% pruning waste compost +50% spent mushroom compost could be optimum cultivation media.Medina et al. (2009) used spent mushroom compost as a seedling cultivation media instead of peat in their study.They experimented the effects of 12 media prepared with spent mushroom compost added in increasing doses on three types with different salt-sensitivity (tomato, pepper and courgette).They reported that spent mushroom compost blended at the rate of 75% could be used in tomato cultivation and the use of spent mushroom compost was an eco-friendly utilization way which made important contributions to vegetable production.
While the researches on the use of wastes as an alternative to peat are gaining momentum in the world, the studies to offer a solution to endangered peat resources through waste utilization are coming into prominence.In the study presented, it has been aimed to utilize spent mushroom compost in plant production and to develop alternative growth media to peat resources, which are about to extinct.

Materials
The study was conducted in the greenhouse of Arslanbey Vocational School of Kocaeli University.Randomized parcels were organized with 3 replications according to the experimental design.7 growing media were prepared by mixing spent mushroom compost and peat at different rates.Growing media and mixing ratios were given in Table 1.
Samples of peat and spent mushroom compost made air-dried were mixed on a weight basis.In the experiment, mushroom production wastes released from the mushroom production facility at Arslanbey Vocational School being held in abeyance for 2 years and perlite and peat taken from a commercial concern were used.Some chemical properties of the materials used in the experiment were given in Table 2. Test pots were left for incubation for 10 weeks in room conditions.The media were irrigated in field capacity throughout the experiment.In order to be able to see the impact of spent mushroom compost, additional fertilization was not made.At the end of the incubation period, 3 tomato seeds were planted in each pot.Certified tomato seeds were bought from a commercial company.The seed type H-2274 was used.During the first weeks of the experiment, hypocotyl length, cotyledon length and width were measured and recorded.At the end of the experiment, seedling length, seedling root length, shoot wet weight and root wet weight were determined.

Methods of analysis
The analysis of pH, EC, percentage of organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and extractable Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were determined in the peat and spent mushroom compost to be added to the mixture before the incubation.In the growth media available in each pot after the harvest of plants, pH and EC were determined with pH meter and EC meter (Richard 1954) in 1:2.5 media: distilled water suspension, spent mushroom compost pH and EC were determined 1:5 distilled water suspension.Organic matter with Walkle-Black wet combustion method (Jackson 1962), total N with Kjeldahl method (Bremmer 1965), available P with NaHCO 3 extraction (Olsen et al. 1954), exchangeable K with ammonium acetate method in atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Knudsen et al. 1982) and exchangeable Ca and Mg with ammonium acetate method in atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Thomas 1982).Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn extractable with DTPA were determined in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Lindsay and Norvell 1978).Heavy metals (Pb,Cd,Ni,Cr,Hg) extractable  with DTPA were extracted according to Lindsay and Norvell (1978) and results were determined in Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer (ICP).
Statistical evaluations were made according to One Way-Anova program.As a result of the variance analysis, different groups were determined by using Duncan test.

RESULTS
Some chemical properties of the growth media mixtures were given in Table 3.According to Table 3, pH was found to be between 6,94 and 7,28 EC was found to be between 1850,00 and 2800,00.As the amount of spent mushroom compost in the growth media increased, the salt contents of the media also increased.The percentage of the organic matter content in the media varied between 33,32 and 29,53.The maximum value was found in the H7 media, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost.The percentage of N content was between 1,82 and 1,47.The medium with the highest nitrogen content was found in the H7 media, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost.Available P 2 O 5 content is between 13,79 and 206,80.The lowest content was found in 100% peat media and the highest content was found in 100% spent mushroom compost media.Exchangeable K 2 0 content of the media was found to be between 143,35 and 1072,00 mg kg -1 , exchangeable Ca content was between 1600,73 and 1803,00 mg kg -1 and exchangeable Mg content was between 570,01 and 680,75 mg kg -1 .H7 media, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost, gave the maximum value of K 2 0 and Ca content compared to H1 media, which contained 100% peat.Mg content, however, had the minimum value in H7 media, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost.As the amount of the spent mushroom compost increased, K 2 O and Ca content of the media also increased.
Microelement contents of the growth media mixtures were given in Table 4.According to Table 4, available Fe value was between 92,85 and 33,53 mg kg -1 .The maximum available Fe value was found in H1 media, which contained 100% peat, and the minimum value was found in H7 media, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost.
Fe content varied according to the amount of the peat in the media.Available Cu content of the media was found to be between 1,09 and 2,94 mg kg -1 and available Zn content was found to be between 1,26 and 34,43.Spent mushroom compost caused an increase in the Zn value in the media.Available Mn content was between 11,51 and 38,50.H7 media, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost, gave the maximum Mn value.
The impacts of the implementation of growth media mixture on some quality traits of tomato seedlings were given in Table 5.According to Table 5, statistically, there is a difference between different growth media mixtures and hypocotyl lengths in p<0.05 level.The maximum hypocotyl length value was obtained as 48,00 mm from the implementation of H7, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost, and the minimum hypocotyl length value was obtained as 41,33 mm from the implementation of H3, which contained 75% peat + 25% spent mushroom compost.The implementation of H1, which contained 100% peat and the implementations of H2, H4, H5, and H6, which contained peat and spent mushroom compost at different rates, statistically took place in the same letter group in terms of hypocotyl length value.The minimum value in cotyledon length was obtained as 23,50 mm from the application of H1, which contained 100% peat.The value of cotyledon length in the media with the addition of spent mushroom compost was higher compared to peat.The maximum values were obtained with 29,70 mm from the H5 media and as 29,13 mm from H7 media.
The minimum value in the cotyledon width was obtained as 8,00 mm from H1 application and the maximum value as 10,76 from H3 application.According to the values of seedling lengths in Table 5, the addition of spent mushroom compost into the media increased the seedling length values compared to H1, which contained 100% peat.The minimum value was obtained as 10,60 cm from H1 media, which contained 100% peat, and the maximum value as 22,52 cm from H7 media, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost.Statistically, there is no difference among H2, H3, H4, H5, H6 and H7 media.
Seedling root lengths showed a parallel development with seedling lengths.The minimum seedling root length value was obtained as 8,55 cm from H1 media and the maximum seedling root length value as 21,35 cm from H7 media.Statistically, H3, H4, H5 and H6 are in the same letter group.The addition of spent mushroom compost into the media caused a difference in the seedling root length in p< 0.05 level compared to H1, which contained 100% peat.
The minimum value in the shoot wet weight and root wet weight were obtained from H1 media, which contained 100% peat, and the maximum value from H7 media, which contained 100% spent mushroom compost.Statistical assessment support the results.The minimum shoot wet weight value is 4,11g and the maximum value is 14,20 g.Spent mushroom compost admixture increased the shoot wet weight in the media in comparison with 100% peat media.The minimum root wet weight value was 0,05g and the maximum value is 1,54 g.The root wet weight increased in the media that contained spent mushroom compost compared to the media that contained 100% peat.

DISCUSSION
When we examine some chemical properties of growth media mixtures, pH value is neutral according to Richards (1954), Ülgen and Yurtsever (1974).The pH value of the medium can be said to be suitable to grow seedling.6,5-7,5 pH is the optimum value for the availability of various macro and micro nutrients (Aktaş 2004).It is reported that in high pH values, root development is affected.(Güneş et al. 2004).The EC value of the media increases with the addition of spent mushroom compost, but there are no salinity issues in the media.Kirven (1986) reported that EC value in growth media should be 2-4 dS/m.Salinity is one of the main problems in spent mushroom compost.Waiting the compost used in the research in open area for two years might have reduced the salt content.According to Günay (1995), waiting the compost piled up in rainy regions for one or two years enables the self-washing of the salt and toxic substances.
The addition of spent mushroom compost increased the organic matter and nitrogen content of the media compared to 100% peat media.While the amount of organic matter in 100% peat media was 29,53%, the amount of organic matter in the media that contained 50% peat + 50% spent mushroom compost was 31,12%.While the percentage of N in 100% peat media was 1,47, the percentage of N in 50% peat + 50% spent mushroom compost media was 1,67.Baran et al. (1995) reported that organic matter and nitrogen values of spent mushroom compost were high in their study.Available P content in H7 media was very high according to FAO 1990 data.In the study Günay et al. (1996) carried out, the results of available P content of spent mushroom compost are similar to ours.In some studies, exchangeable K, Ca and Mg values of the media include different results (Abak and Çelikel 1996, Demirtaş et al. 2007, Polat et al. 2009).Topçuoğlu et al. (2004) made chemical analyses of the spent mushroom compost, they obtained from mushroom enterprises and reported that the properties examined in the samples were different in statistical terms.The difference in nutrient content might result from the different applications carried out during the compost production.Chemical fertilizers used in compost production and their quantities can affect the results of the study.When we examine the micro element contents of the media, Cu and Mn are in sufficient levels, Fe is high and Zn is to excess (Follet 1969, Lindsay and Norvell 1978, FAO 1990).The addition of spent mushroom compost increased the Cu, Zn and Mn contents of the media.Fe content of the media, however, decreased with the addition of spent mushroom compost.
The addition of spent mushroom compost into the growth media had a positive impact on the quality properties of tomato seedlings.The values of hypocotyl length, seedling length, seedling root length, shoot fresh weight and root fresh weight gave the best results in the seedlings grown Means with different letters in the same row, p<0.05 level, there is a difference and SD: Standard deviation in 100% spent mushroom compost (H7).The results are similar to the ones in the study Günay et al. carried out (1996).They reported that the media consisting of spent mushroom compost gave the best results in the development of some ornamental plants.Dura et al. (2000) stated that the use of only spent mushroom compost in pepper was not as effective as classical compost material.Different results might stem from the chemical composition and salt contents of the spent mushroom compost.Polat et al. (2009) reported that spent mushroom compost kept waiting for minimum 6 months gave positive results in the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).H5 media which 25% spent mushroom compost contained the length of cotyledon, H3 media which 25% spent mushroom compost contained the width of cotyledon gave the best results .Özgüven (1998) stated that the use of spent mushroom compost in strawberry cultivation could be an alternative to the farm manure, which is expensive.
Pekşen and Günay (2009) cultivated mushrooms in organic media and reported that the mixture of tea waste and wheat stem brought to a successful conclusion and it could be used as an alternative media.The addition of spent mushroom compost into the growth media was reported to result in successful in lettuce cultivation by Polat et al. (2004), in the germination and growth of garden plants by Medina and his friends (2009) and in chrysanthemum production by Çiçek et al. (2012).Birben et al. (1999) examined the physical and chemical properties of the growth media mixtures and reported that spent mushroom compost could be used at the rates of up to 50%.Benito et al. (2005) prepared different growth media and recommended M5 and M6 media, which contained 25% and 50% spend mushroom compost, as the rates of N, P 2 0 5 and K 2 0 might affect the plant growth.
In conclusion, spent mushroom compost can be used as seedling cultivation media or can be added into the media at certain rates.In this research, spent mushroom compost positive impact, seedling development.However, salt content is a restrictive factor in the determination of the amount of use.Söchtig and Grabbe (1995) emphasized the importance of the salt content.Erkel (1990) reported that waiting the compost in the open for 1-1.5 years and reutilizing it after being washed 5-6 times was appropriate.
Utilization of spent mushroom compost in seedling growth media is an alternative to the other growth media, which are about to extinct and expensive.Environmental issues are evident.Solutions should be created in order to feed the increasing population without causing ecosystem degradation and researchs on re-utilization should be diversified and increased.