Relation between the initial nitrogen content of mushroom compost and the duration of composting

With a 3-day duration of Stage I of composting, an initial nitrogen (N) content of about 1.4% of the dry matter resulted in a shorter time in Stage II and a 14-day earlier start to cropping than a 2.4% N content. In 6 weeks cropping from each compost, the yields of mushrooms were similar.Following 13 and 23 days in Stage I, initial N content had little or no effect on the duration of Stage II or on the start of cropping, but the yield of mushrooms was greater from composts with the higher N content. These results support the proposition that with increasing duration of composting a higher initial N content of the compost is acceptable, and probably desirable, for preparing a successful compost.A direct relation between duration of composting and losses of water and dry matter from the compost was confirmed.The occurrence of Coprinus spp. (ink caps) fruit bodies during mushroom cropping was not a good indication of subsequent yield of mushrooms.