Availability of red pistachio shell compost in cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation

Many types of mushroom that can grow on industrial and agricultural wastes play an important role in the evaluation of wastes and their recycling to nature. Pistachio (Pistacia vera), which is grown in the Southeastern Anatolia region of our country, is a very important livelihood of the region. As a result of processing of pistachio, approximately 20.000 tons of external shell (exocarp) is produced as agricultural industrial waste every year. These wastes constitute an important source of environmental pollution. However, these wastes have important organic compounds for the cosmetic and medical industry. Evaluation of the rich compounds of waste pistachio shells will both eliminate environmental pollution and will be a new source of gain. For this purpose, cultivated mushroom compost was obtained by fermentation of waste shell. Different proportions of peanut shell to the obtained compost (100% mushroom compost/ 75% KMK-25% fermented pistachio shell/ 50% KMK- 50% FAK/ 75% FAK-25% KMK/ 100% FAK) was mixed and cultivated mushroom was produced. Agaricus bisporus mushroom was cultivated by mixing method. As a result of the study, grown mushrooms were analyzed and evaluated. As a result of the evaluation, it was determined that the application containing 25% fermented shell can be used in cultivated mushrooms. Key Words: Agaricus bisporus, Fermentation, Pistachio Shell, Compost, Cultivated Mushroom