By Faridat Salifu
A team of Chinese scientists has developed a new composting method using mushrooms that significantly improves crop performance while reducing pathogens and antibiotic-resistant genes in agricultural soil.
The research, conducted by the Kunming Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was published in Environmental Science & Technology.
It shows that composting with a specific species of mushroom enhanced oat growth and reduced harmful contaminants in comparison to traditional composting methods.
According to the study, the mushroom-based compost suppressed pathogens and limited the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes often found in livestock manure. It also lowered the concentration of organic pollutants commonly left behind by conventional composting processes.
The findings address a major concern in global agriculture: the large volume of farm waste and the unintended consequences of reusing manure from antibiotic-treated animals.
The industry generates an estimated 14 billion tons of crop straw and 125 million tons of livestock manure annually, much of which is composted and returned to the soil.
However, traditional composting can fail to break down certain contaminants, leading to environmental pollution and potential health risks through food and water systems. This includes the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from soil to crops.
In the mushroom-assisted process, fungi played a key role in breaking down complex organic matter and degrading contaminants. The researchers observed improved soil quality and increased biomass in crops grown with the treated compost.
“The results show significant growth of oats stimulated by biofertiliser use,” the authors stated.
The study contributes to a growing field of research focused on sustainable agriculture and waste recovery. Other recent developments include the use of cover crops to prevent soil erosion and the pairing of solar panels with farming systems to improve efficiency.
Scientists say the mushroom compost method could serve as a viable strategy for managing agricultural waste more safely while improving crop yields. Further studies are expected to explore the technique’s application across various crops and farming conditions.