Formulating Different Casing Mixtures and Implementing them to Check their Effect on Agaricus bisporus Yield

In the present study, five different casing mixtures—Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Garden Soil (GS), Spent Compost (SC), Sandy Soil (SS), and Local Soil (LS)—were evaluated for their effectiveness in the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus to enhance yield. Each casing mixture was subjected to three treatments: treatment with 4% formalin solution, autoclaving at 15 psi, and an untreated control. Among the five casing materials tested, FYM was found to be the most effective, providing optimal conditions for mushroom development. This was evidenced by the shortest time to pinhead formation (18.4 days), longest stipe length (2.5 cm), largest cap diameter (3.1 cm), and the highest yield (14.7 kg per 100 kg compost). Furthermore, among the treatment methods, FYM treated with 4% formalin yielded the highest production (16.7 kg per 100 kg compost), significantly outperforming all other combinations.