Abstract
The biodegradation and composting of wood meal waste after sawdust-based cultivation of nameko (Pholiota nameko (T. Ito) S. Ito) were investigated using commercial microorganism-degrading agents, and the availability of the products as fertilizer was evaluated. After 15 days of culture, the cultured waste decreased its volume to about half, and the grain size decreased. The weight-loss percentage of the culture increased with the increase in the mixture ratio of the degradative promoters. The pH of the culture, which was originally 3.8, decreased to 5.3-6.0 (weak acidity) after biodegradation, and the CN ratio decreased. Cultivation tests of the biodegradated products as compost showed no inhibitory activities for the germination and growth of komatsuna (Brassica campestoris). The results obtained suggest that the products obtained from nameko-cultivation waste biodegraded with microorganisms can be used as compost.
