Open field interplanting of oyster mushroom with cabbage and it's effect on the subsequent eggplant crop

摘要

Studies with cabbage / mushroom interplanting were conducted at the Vegetable Experimental Farm. Ain Shams University in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus columbinus) grown on rice straw and cotton waste were place between cabbage ridges in December 1996 and 1997 after 2 months from transplanting the cabbage seedlings cv. Balady. This interplanting system achieved much larger cabbage yield than sole cabbage especially in plots with rice straw substrate which increased cabbage head yield significantly by about 21.8% than sole crop. The muchroom provides some bonus yield relatively cheaply and easily, in addition to higher yield of cabbage. Rice straw used as substrate for mushroom increased significantly fruit bodies number (22.1%) and weight (46.3%) per plot than cotton waste. Mushroom interplanting also controls (100%) the late season weeds in cabbage plots. Moreover, converting rice straw and cotton wastes into spent mushroom compost with high ash, and protein content and low fibers, improved the quality of the substrates as animal feed or as organic fertiliezer. Eggplant seedlings cv. local long white was transplanted in spring (April), 1997 and 1998 in the same plots of the winter cabbage / mushroom interplantings with buring spent mushroom compost into plot soil ridges. This winter interplanting system improved soil fertility and increased subsequent eggplant production. Fruit weight per unit area increased by about 11% and 12% for eggplant grown in soil amended with spent mushroom compost from cotton waste and rice straw respectively than that obtained from control treatment. It is emphasized that cabbage / mushroon interplanting is especially beneficial to the farmers in rural areas of Egypt. It will result in better landequivalent ratio and high income to farmers in addition to soil improvement.