Application of Pleurotus ostreatus Spent Extracts on Enhancement of Faba Bean Production

Microbial extracts are eco-friendly and reduce threats effects of chemical fertilizers in the agricultural field. Rice straw used for of Pleurotus ostreatus (an edible fungus) production. The residual spent mushroom (SM) was extracted in alkaline medium (with 0.5 M Potassium hydroxide) and the obtained extract was assayed for carbohydrates, reducing sugar, organic acids and NPK-content. In vitro, the ability of these extracts to support the growth of beneficial microorganisms (Azospirillium sp, Azotobacer, Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter cloacae and Trichoderma sp.) were evaluated. Spent mushroom extracts (SME) used for improving faba bean production in this proposal. Faba bean cultivars Sakha 4 and Misr 3 were conducted during two winter seasons; pots (2017-2018) and field experiment (2018-2019) at Agricultural Research Center, Sakha Agriculture Research Station, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. The SME was applied with three methods (Spry, soil amendments and mixed of spry + soil amendment). The results revealed that the 10% w/v SME is rich with polysaccharide, reducing sugar, organic acids (Humic acid, Oxalic acid, Citric acid, Lactic acid, Ascorbic acid, Maleic acid, Formic acid, Salsylic acid) in addition NPK and microelements. It was also able to support the logarithmic growth of the previous beneficial microorganisms with (4.7, 3.8, 5.4 and 3.85 cfu ml-1), respectively while Azotobacter was not able to grow in this media. The experiments results shown that SME enhanced the vegetative growth (plant length, number of branches, number and dry weight of nodules, grain yield, and weight of 100 grain) and chemical composition (NPK) of treated plants compared with untreated ones.