Effects of different casing soils and calcium chloride applications on mushroom yield and quality

This study was carried out in the department of Horticulture, Faculty ofAgriculture of Çukurova University during 2003-2005. As plant material A15 varietyof Agaricus bisporus was used. In this study, effect of three different peats, two ofwhich (Malatya, Kahramanmara ) are obtained from the locations around Adana andone as control (Bolu-Yeniça a) on yield and quality were investigated to solve theproblems of mushroom growers that originate from the use of different casing soils.Influence on mushroom firmness, yield and color of three different calcium chlorideconcentrates (0.05 %, 0.10 %and 0.15 %) added to the irrigation water were alsoinvestigated. Effect of the peats used and the calcium chloride concentrates tested onyield and quality were evaluated considering total yield, the yield per flush,mushroom weight, mushroom firmness, whiteness, property stalk and cap.As a result of the study, the maximum yield was obtained fromKahramanmara peat. It was also found that yield decreases with the increase ofcalcium chloride concentrate. 0.10 %concentrate produced the best yield, whitenessand firmness.Key words : Casing soil, Calcium chloride, Whiteness