Spent mushroom substrate utilization using different portable technologies
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Date
2016
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
In present scenario, portable technologies are becoming popular because of their fabrication, installation,
transportation and less space requirement. These are effective and efficient in terms of technology and cost.
Mushroom industry is generating about 1-2 million tons per ton of mushroom harvested. Hence, the disposal of
spent mushroom substrate is becoming a challenge for the mushroom growers.
In the present study, three portable technologies i.e. Portable biogas plant, vermibed and biomass geyser
were selected. Utilization of spent mushroom substrate was done using these portable technologies. Also one
portable earthworm separator machine was developed during the course of this study. SMS was added as additive
(2%) in 2 m3 portable biogas plant on alternative days for 4 months i.e. Jan-April. The average daily temperature
varied between 18-40°C. Biogas production in control and SMS based biogas plants varied between 600 to 1214
litres and 726 to 1438 litres, respectively. The methane percentage was 55% in control and 60% in SMS based
biogas plant. The benefit cost ratio of biogas plant came out to be around 1.5 and payback period was 3.62 years.
Two portable vermibeds were fed with cattle dung and SMS in 2:1 and 4:1 ratio for compost preparation. The
vermicompost was prepared in 70 days. N, P, K content of 2:1 based vermicompost were 0.16, 0.57 and 0.19% and
4:1 based vermicompost were 1.90, 0.57 and 1.54%. 4:1 based vermicompost was found to be better as compared
to 2:1. The benefit cost ratio of vermibed was found to be around 4 and payback period was 3 months. The
separation of vermicompost and earthworm was done using developed portable earthworm separator. It took 1 min
to separate 2 kg of vermicompost. The separations efficiency was around 90%. The cost of this developed
machine was Rs. 5000.
Portable biomass geyser was operated on a mixture of cattle dung and SMS (5:1) for heating water. The
cost of heating 100 litres of H2O came out to be Rs. 54 in case of electric geyser and Rs. 32 in case of biomass
geyser.
It can be concluded from the present study that SMS has proved to be a suitable additive along with
cattle dung in portable technologies viz. Biogas plant, Vermibed and Biomass geyser. Hence, this waste can be
disposed off in an eco friendly and more energy efficient manner using farmer friendly portable technologies.