Mushroom-Based Composting Revolutionizes Waste Management and Soil Health in Agriculture.

In response to growing environmental and health concerns linked to agricultural waste, a team of scientists from the Kunming Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has unveiled a novel mushroom-based composting method that enhances both waste management and crop health. Their findings, recently published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, offer a sustainable solution for the mounting challenges posed by global agricultural intensification.

The agricultural sector generates staggering amounts of waste annually—around 14 billion tons of crop straw and 125 million tons of livestock manure. Conventional composting techniques often fall short, primarily due to their limited ability to break down tough lignocellulose materials and eliminate persistent pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Moreover, the widespread use of antibiotics like oxytetracycline in livestock farming exacerbates the spread of ARGs and disease-causing microbes within soil ecosystems, posing a risk to both food safety and environmental health.

To address these issues, the researchers introduced a closed-loop microbial conversion system that integrates crop straw, livestock manure, and spent mushroom substrate (SMS). Central to this system is Stropharia rugosoannulata, a rare edible mushroom known for its strong degradative capabilities. Utilizing Yunnan Province’s rich supply of agricultural biomass and fungal species, the team constructed a Livestock-Crop-Mushroom (LCM) circular model aimed at optimizing organic matter use while supporting crop growth.

The study followed a three-stage process: co-composting of straw and cow manure, mushroom cultivation using the compost, and finally, the recycling of SMS back into composting. This LCM system was evaluated for its impact on oat plant development and soil microbial dynamics, with comparisons made against conventional compost (straw and cow manure) and compost enhanced with SMS.

Results showed that the SMS-enriched compost not only improved plant root structure and nutrient absorption but also significantly altered the soil microbial community. Functional microbes and saprophytic fungi were enriched, contributing to the suppression of pathogens and a healthier rhizosphere environment.

Critically, the system also reduced contaminants. Levels of oxytetracycline residue in cow manure dropped substantially, and there was a marked decline in both pathogens and ARGs within the soil and oat plants—outperforming traditional composting methods.

To understand the underlying mechanisms, the team applied advanced multi-omics approaches, including metagenomics and microbial sequencing, alongside functional gene profiling. This allowed them to trace the influence of the LCM biofertilizer across various plant compartments—from root zones to stems and seeds—demonstrating its broad ecological impact.

This groundbreaking study offers a promising pathway for turning agricultural waste into valuable biofertilizer, while simultaneously reducing microbiological risks in farming systems. By reimagining composting through fungal biotechnology, the researchers present a scalable, green solution for modern agricultural sustainability.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-04-mushroom-based-composting-farm-pathogens.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.