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Influence of Spent Oyster Mushroom Compost as Growing Media on the

Growth and Yield of Organic Pak Choi

Article in International Journal of Integrative Research · May 2024

DOI: 10.59890/ijir.v2i5.1800

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 International Journal of Integrative Research (IJIR)
Vol.2, No.5, 2024: 413-424

Influence of Spent Oyster Mushroom Compost as Growing Media

on the Growth and Yield of Organic Pak Choi
Vannak Sour1, Piseth Sour2, Naykie Ny3, Chenda Men4
134Department of Agronomy, Kampong Speu Institute of Technology, Cambodia
2Department of Administration, Kampong Chhueteal Institute of Technology

Corresponding Author: Vannak Sour; Email: [email protected]

ARTICLEINFO ABSTRACT
Keywords: Put Spent oyster Cambodia is an agricultural country that
mushroom compost, growing consistently generates substantial agricultural
media, Pak Choi waste or residue, including spent mushroom, rice
husk, rice straw, and animal manure. Effectively
Received : 12, March managing these waste materials could prove to
Revised : 20, April be the optimal choice for farmers, enabling them
to reduce production costs and increase income.
Accepted: 23, May
Spent oyster mushroom compost, among these
wastes which contains valuable nutrients and
©2024 Sour, Sour, Ny, Men: This is an also beneficial microorganisms. Therefore,
open-access article distributed under the investigating its use as a growing medium for
terms of the Creative Commons Atribusi Pak Choi, combined with other agricultural
4.0 Internasional. waste materials, is worth exploring. This
experiment was conducted using a Completely
Randomized Design (CRD) with five growing
media formulations (G1-G5), with G5 designated
as the control, utilizing soil only. After the
harvesting, the results demonstrated that all
growing media incorporating spent oyster
mushroom spawn mixed with other agricultural
residues led to increased Pak Choi yields.
However, G2, consisting of chicken manure, rice
husk ash, spent oyster mushroom compost, and
soil in equal proportions (1:1:1:1), emerged as the
most effective growing medium formulation, as
it consistently yielded higher Pak Choi yields.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.59890/ijir.v2i5.1800
E-ISSN: 2988-2184
https://journal.multitechpublisher.com/index.php/ijir
413
Sour, Sour, Ny, Men

INTRODUCTION
Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis, commonly known as Chinese cabbage or pak
choi, represents a vital component of global agriculture and human nutrition
(Wati et al., 2023). Its morphological diversity, physiological adaptability, and
agronomic versatility make it a valuable crop for sustainable food production
and dietary diversity. Cambodia is one of the countries that heavily consume this
vegetable, with people frequently incorporating it into their daily meals for
family consumption or serving it at significant occasions such as national merit
ceremonies or weddings (Pinn et al., 2021). Consequently, the demand for this
vegetable remains consistent throughout the year. However, vegetables sold in
Cambodian markets also face contamination with toxic chemicals. An alarming
84.9% of Cambodian people express greater concern about chemical
contamination than microbial contamination (Mosiman et al., 2023).
Consequently, there is a growing trend among Cambodians to consume
vegetables produced under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) or organically
(Siriwattananon et al., 2014; Kouy et al., 2016).
The production of organic vegetables has faced many challenges, such as
plant pests, insufficient fertilizer, or soil contamination in planting areas
(Logocha et al., 2019). One option that allows vegetables to receive optimal
nutrients and avoids exposure to toxic chemicals from the soil is planting them
in growing media. Growing media, also known as growing mediums or
substrates, refer to the materials in which plants grow. They provide support,
nutrients, and a stable environment for plant roots to anchor and absorb water
and essential minerals. Growing media can be natural or synthetic and may
include components such as soil, peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, coco coir,
compost, or various types of synthetic materials (Landis et al., 1990; Carlile et al.,
2015). For developing and agricultural countries like Cambodia, waste products
from the agricultural sector are the best option as they can reduce waste and
potentially transform them into more valuable resources (Koul et al., 2022).
Cambodia has numerous agricultural wastes, such as rice straw, rice husk,
animal manures, old mushroom spawn, corn stalks, cassava stems, etc. (Theng et
al., 2022). Therefore, some of these materials are suitable for reuse as growing
media for planting Pak Choi.
This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of growing media,
composed of five formulations mixed from Cambodian local agricultural waste
or residue, on the growth and yield of Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis production
as organic vegetables in greenhouse conditions.

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LITERATURE REVIEW

Cambodia, like many other agricultural countries, generates a significant

amount of agricultural residue or waste. Without appropriate management,
these residues can potentially become toxic or emit unpleasant odours, impacting
the surrounding communities (Seng et al., 2011). However, some agricultural
residues or waste can be repurposed as compost or growing media for planting
crops, particularly organic ones. In mushroom farm production, spent oyster
mushroom compost is typically transferred from the nursery every 30 days (Sour
et al., 2024). Mortada et al. (2020) revealed that spent oyster mushroom compost
contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc,
manganese, iron, and copper— all of which are essential plant nutrients. There
were many studies that have utilized spent mushroom compost to produce
compost fertilizer. Roy et al. (2015) demonstrated that using spent mushroom
compost could improve the yield of Capsicum annuum L. Additionally, mixing
spent oyster mushroom compost with cow manure could increase the yield of
Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. (Priadi & Saskiawan, 2018). Thus, using spent
mushroom compost as a growing medium for planting Pak Choi is a suitable
option to reduce production costs and increase income for growers.

METHODOLOGY
Experiment preparations
This experiment was conducted in green house at department of agronomy,
Kampong Speu Institute of Technology (KSIT), Kampong Speu province,
Cambodia during September to October 2021. The experiment was arranged in
completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 formulations as follows:
Formulation 1 (G1) Chicken manure, rice husk, spent mushroom
compost and soil (ratio 1:1:1:1)
Formulation 2 (G2) Chicken manure, rice husk ash, spent
mushroom compost and soil (ratio 1:1:1:1)
Formulation 3 (G3) Chicken manure, rice husk, spent mushroom
compost and soil (ratio 1:2:1:2)
Formulation 4 (G4) Chicken manure, rice husk, rice husk ash, spent
mushroom compost and soil (ratio 1:1:1:1.5)
Formulation 5 (G5) Soil (Control)

The chicken manure was obtained from the Department of Animal Science,
KSIT, while the spent mushroom compost was acquired from an oyster
mushroom farm within the Department of Agronomy. All ingredients were
thoroughly mixed, and each formulation was supplemented with water to
achieve a moisture content of approximately 65%. The mixture was then allowed
to mature for 45 days. Subsequently, the growing media were transferred to a
greenhouse containing metal beds positioned 1.5 meters above the base. Each bed
measured 1 meter wide by 25 meters long by 0.2 meters deep and was filled with
the prepared growing media. Afterward, Pak Choi seedlings were transplanted

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into the beds at a spacing of 20x20cm. Yield data were collected 30 days after
transplanting.
Data collection
Physical properties of the growing media were collected both before and
after planting. Parameters such as bulk density, air-filled porosity, and water
holding capacity were determined using the method described by Hongpakdee
and Ruamrangsri (2015). Chemical properties of the growing media were
assessed through pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and the concentration levels of
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). pH and EC values were
determined following the procedure outlined by Cabrera & Raudales (2017),
while concentrations of N-P-K were measured using the LLD Test Kit developed
by Kasetsart University, Thailand (Attanandana et al., 1999). This kit provides N-
P-K concentration levels categorized as low, medium, or high, indicated by color
changes observed in the test results.
The data pertaining to plant growth included measurements of plant
height, leaf number, and canopy size, which were recorded at 10, 20 and 30 days
after transplanting. The greenness of Pak Choi leaves was assessed using a
chlorophyll meter (SPAD502Plus, Konica Minolta, Japan) at the same day. Yield
data for Pak Choi were obtained 30 days after planting by weighing the fresh
produce. Subsequently, the samples were dried in a hot air oven at 70℃ for 72
hours to determine the dry weight.
Data analysis
The data were recorded in Microsoft Excel and subjected to analysis of
variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of 95%. Treatments that exhibited
significant differences were further analyzed using Duncan’s Multiple Range
Test.

RESULTS
The pH levels of the growing media before planting indicated a suitable
range for growing vegetables, ranging from 7.00 to 7.32. Post-planting, the pH
values exhibited a slight increase but remained within a range that did not
significantly impact plant growth, ranging from 7.05 to 7.83. In terms of electrical
conductivity (EC), Growing Media Formula 1 (G1) exhibited the highest EC
value, which decreased slightly in post-planting which were 5.37 and 4.55
mS/cm, respectively. Following, G2 demonstrated the second highest EC value,
which also decreased after planting to 4.43 and 4.39 mS/cm, respectively.
Conversely, G5, which did not incorporate any agricultural waste, showed the
lowest EC value both before and after planting, measuring at 2.63 and 0.26
mS/cm, respectively (Table 1).
Growing media formulas G1 and G2 contained high, very high, and
medium levels of N-P-K, respectively. After harvesting, G1 maintained the same
nutritional composition, while G2 experienced a reduction in potassium,
resulting in a very low concentration. Pre-planting, G3 and G4 exhibited high,
high, and medium concentrations of N-P-K, respectively, which remained
consistent after planting, except for the potassium concentration in G4, which

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Vol.2, No.5, 2024: 413-424

decreased from medium to very low post-planting. The upper surface soil or G5
contained medium, low, and medium concentrations of N-P-K for pre-planting.
After harvesting, the phosphorus and potassium concentrations decreased to low
and very low, respectively (Table 1).

Table 1. Chemical properties of growing media pre- and post-planting

Growing media Chemical properties of growing media
formulations pH EC (mS/cm) N P K
Pre-planting
G1 7.00 5.37 H/1 VH M
G2 7.68 4.43 H VH M
G3 7.32 2.68 H H M
G4 7.53 2.92 H M M
G5 7.43 2.63 M L M
Post-planting
G1 7.05 4.55 H VH H
G2 7.62 4.39 H VH VL
G3 7.36 1.88 H H M
G4 7.83 1.16 H M VL
G5 7.40 0.26 M L VL
/1 The result of NPK concentration in growing media according to colour of kit

which were, H = hight, VH = very high, M = medium, L = low, VL = very low

The upper subsurface soil, denoted as G5, exhibited the highest in bulk
density, measuring 1.22 g/cm3 in pre-planting, and experiencing a slight change
to 1.30 g/cm3 for post-harvest. Conversely, for the other growing media (G1-G4),
the supplementation of soil with rice husk, rice husk ash, old mushroom spawn,
and chicken manure enhanced quality of the bulk density of the growing media,
resulting in measurements of 0.58, 0.58, 0.49, and 0.81 g/cm3, respectively. These
values exhibited minor alterations following the planting of Pak Choi (Table 2).
Supplementing growing media with agricultural residue also improves
the air-filled porosity in the soil. Among the formulations, G2 exhibited the
highest air-filled porosity at 8.86%, followed by G3, G1, and G4 at 6.27%, 5.57%,
and 2.20%, respectively. Conversely, G5 demonstrated the lowest air-filled
porosity at 2.03%. Following the planting of Pak Choi, all growing media
formulations exhibited a decrease in air-filled porosity, measuring at 7.07%,
5.57%, 4.60%, 1.95%, and 1.93%, respectively. The results of water holding
capacity align with those of air-filled porosity. Prior to planting, G2 showcased
the highest water holding capacity, followed by G4, G3, G1, and G5, at 47.64%,
42.37%, 39.48%, 38.77%, and 17.95%, respectively. However, post-planting, all
growing media displayed a decrease in this parameter (Table 2).

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Table 2. Physical properties of growing media pre- and post-planting

Physical properties of growing media
Growing media
Bulk density Air filled Water Holding
formulations
(g/cm )3 porosity (%) Capacity (%)
Pre-planting
G1 0.58 5.57 38.77
G2 0.58 8.86 47.64
G3 0.49 6.27 39.48
G4 0.81 2.20 42.37
G5 1.22 2.03 17.95
Post-planting
G1 0.58 4.60 36.06
G2 0.61 7.07 44.77
G3 0.55 5.57 37.82
G4 0.92 1.95 43.28
G5 1.30 1.93 18.33

The plant height of Pak Choi exhibited significant differences ten days
after transplanting. G3 displayed the tallest plants at 13.76 cm, although not
significantly different from G2, which measured 13.11 cm. Conversely, G5
produced the shortest plants at 8.40 cm. By the twentieth day after planting, there
were no significant differences among G1-G4, but G5 still significantly lagged
behind the other growing media. This trend persisted through the thirtieth day
after transplanting.

Table 3. Plant height and size of plant canopy of Pak Choi

Plant height (cm)/a Plant canopy (cm)

Growing media
10 20 30 10 20 30
formulations
days days days days days days
G1 11.77b 19.73a 24.83a 12.92a 22.06 34.28a
G2 13.11ab 20.20a 25.63a 13.45a 23.44 34.66a
G3 13.76a 19.55a 24.37a 13.28a 22.88 33.39ab
G4 12.17b 19.05a 24.58a 12.36a 24.15 32.30ab
G5 8.40c 14.93b 21.12b 8.06b 21.13 27.73b
F-test * * * * ns *
a/Mean with different letter are significant difference by DMRT (P > 0.05)

Regarding plant canopy size, at ten days post-transplanting, G1-G4

demonstrated the most expansive canopies, measuring 12.92 cm, 13.45 cm, 13.28
cm, and 12.36 cm, respectively. All of these were significantly different from G5,

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which exhibited the smallest canopy at 8.06 cm. At twenty days post-
transplanting, there were no significant differences among treatments. However,
by the thirtieth day, G2 and G1 displayed the largest canopies at 34.66 cm and
34.28 cm, respectively, while G5 had the smallest canopy at 27.73 cm (Table 3).
Ten days after transplanting, there were no significant differences among
treatments in terms of plant leaf number. However, by the twentieth day after
transplanting, G2 exhibited the highest leaf number, although not significantly
different from G3, with counts of 11.26 and 11.66 leaves, respectively. Following
closely were G1 and G4 with leaf counts of 11.26 and 10.80, respectively, while
G5 displayed the lowest leaf number at 9.00 leaves. By the thirtieth day after
transplanting, G2 again recorded the highest leaf number at 22.23 leaves,
although not significantly different from G3 and G1, which measured 21.06 and
20.36 leaves, respectively. Meanwhile, G5 continued to exhibit the lowest leaf
number, measuring at 18.23 leaves (Table 4).
The chlorophyll content of Pak Choi leaves exhibited significant
differences at ten days post-transplanting. G1-G4 displayed similarly high
chlorophyll content levels, measuring 28.35, 28.64, 28.41, and 29.21 SPAD units,
respectively. By the twentieth day after transplanting, G4 and G1 recorded the
highest chlorophyll content at 34.42 and 34.10 SPAD units, respectively, though
not significantly different from G5 and G2, which measured 32.56 and 32.55
SPAD units, respectively. G3 exhibited the lowest chlorophyll content at 29.28
SPAD units. This trend persisted through the thirtieth day post-transplanting,
consistent with the observations made on the twentieth day (Table 4).

Table 4. Plant leaf number and chlorophyl content of Pak Choi

Leaf number/a Chlorophyl content
Growing media (Leaves) (SPAD unit)
formulations 10 20 30 10 20 30
days days days days days days
G1 6.23 11.26b 20.36ab 28.35a 34.10a 39.12a
G2 7.03 12.33a 22.23a 28.69a 32.55ab 38.87ab
G3 5.86 11.66ab 21.06ab 28.41a 29.28b 36.12b
G4 7.26 10.80b 20.60b 29.26a 34.42a 39.75a
G5 4.63 9.00c 18.23c 25.84b 32.56ab 36.24ab
F-test ns * * * * *
a/Mean with different letter are significant difference by DMRT (P > 0.05)

The results of the fresh weight of Pak Choi thirty days after transplanting
indicate that G2 yielded the highest fresh weight at 25.52 tons/ha, although not
significantly different from G4, G3, and G1, which produced Pak Choi yields of
25.14, 24.36, and 22.48 tons/ha, respectively. Conversely, G5 yielded the lowest
fresh weight of Pak Choi at 12.29 tons/ha. The dry weight of Pak Choi exhibited
a similar trend to the fresh weight (Figure 1).

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a a
a
a

a a a a
b

Figure 1. Fresh and dry weight of Pak Choi

a b

c d

Figure 2. Spent oyster mushroom compost (a), the metalic bed used for
containing growing media (b), LLD N-P-K test kit (c) and color change of
growing when interact with test kit (d)

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Vol.2, No.5, 2024: 413-424

DISCUSSION
Preparing growing media for planting vegetables or other crops requires
careful attention to various factors. These factors include physical and chemical
properties, suitable plant nutrients, and, importantly, cost-effectiveness with
readily available ingredients in our local area (Caron et al., 2015; Gruda, 2019).
G5 represents typical soil with high bulk density, low air-filled porosity,
and low water holding capacity, measuring at 1.22 g/cm3, 2.03%, and 17.95%,
respectively. High bulk density results in heavier weight, making it difficult to
transport, while low air-filled porosity and water holding capacity led to reduced
plant growth and inadequate water supply for plant consumption (Fernandes &
Cora, 2004).
Supplementation with agricultural waste can help improve both physical
and chemical properties of growing media. According to this experiment, G1-G4
demonstrated a reduction in bulk density to 0.58, 0.58, 0.49, and 0.81 g/cm 3,
respectively, correlating with increased air-filled porosity and water holding
capacity. This enhancement occurs because agricultural waste aids soil in
absorbing more water and serves as a nutrient source for plants as it decomposes
(Anastopoulos et al., 2019). Amending soil with rice husk or rice husk ash has
been shown to improve the physical properties of clay soil (Anikwe, 2000; Pratiwi
& Shinogi, 2016). Additionally, Thongpradista et al. (2021) revealed that using
spent oyster mushroom compost can increase plant nutrients in compost
fertilizer, while chicken manure serves as a rich source of plant nutrients
(Vandecasteele et al., 2014).
According to the results of the growing media, it is evident that all
formulations incorporating agricultural waste and spent mushroom compost
contribute to improved plant growth and Pak Choi yield in a correlated manner.
Therefore, this discussion will focus solely on the fresh weight yields of Pak Choi.
G2, composed of chicken manure, rice husk ash, spent oyster mushroom
compost, and soil in equal proportions (1:1:1:1), yielded the highest fresh weight
at 25.52 tons/ha. However, it did not exhibit a significant difference compared to
G4, G3, and G1, which produced Pak Choi yields of 25.14, 24.36, and 22.48
tons/ha, respectively. Consequently, it can be concluded that all four growing
media formulas are suitable for planting Pak Choi. Nevertheless, G2 may be
considered the optimal growing media formula due to its tendency to yield
higher Pak Choi yields. This is attributed to G2's well-balanced ingredient ratio,
which facilitates nutrient release. Soil plays a crucial role in providing stability
for plant roots, while spent oyster mushroom compost enhances water holding
capacity and acts as a source of micronutrients. Rice husk ash improves air-filled
capacity, and chicken manure serves as a nitrogen source for Pak Choi (Russell,
1977; Fattah et al., 2013; Thongpradista et al., 2021).

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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

All formulations of growing media, namely G1 to G4, proved suitable for

cultivating organic Pak Choi. Nevertheless, G2, comprising chicken manure, rice
husk ash, spent oyster mushroom compost, and soil in equal proportions
(1:1:1:1), stands out as potentially the most cost-effective option for growers.
Given the abundance of agricultural waste in Cambodia, exploring the
utilization of other waste materials for crop cultivation presents a promising
avenue. This approach not only helps in waste reduction, thus rendering it
valuable, but also contributes to lowering production costs.
FURTHER STUDY
For further research in this field, investigating extended crop cycles could
be beneficial. As observed, the nutrient levels in the growing media remain high
and very high. Therefore, exploring the cultivation of Pak Choi or other short-
duration vegetables in the same growing media without additional fertilizer
supplementation could be examined.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research study was conducted as part of the bachelor's degree
graduation requirement for a student in the field of Plant Science, Department of
Agronomy, Kampong Speu Institute of Technology (KSIT), Cambodia. We
would like to extend our gratitude to the director of KSIT and the head of the
Department of Agronomy for providing us with the necessary facilities and
equipment to conduct this experiment successfully.
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