Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation

(Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation)
However, 1-3 years old SMSs (mature SMS) are almost identical with their properties and found
very useful as soil conditioner and organic fertilizer to the soil and crop plants, respectively.
Bioremediation of contaminated soil and water, encouragement of beneficial actinomycetes,
bacteria and fungi in soil, plant disease management, re-growing of mushrooms are other
important aspects of mature SMS, Fresh SMS is also useful as value added substrate of
biocontrol agents, animal fodder, biogas, steam production etc. therefore, MST purely favours
the recycling of spent mushroom substrate incessantly because it otherwise creates various
environmental problems including ground water contamination and nuisance if not handled
properly.
Conclusion
The purpose of the present study is that mushroom related activities (MRA) would not
define as mushroom cultivation, rather it has broad area of study under nutrition, medicine,
agriculture and ecology in order to achieve social, economic and environment friendly
consequences. On the other hand MRA can be explored only with the help of collective approach
of mushroom biology (science) and engineering (technology). So, it would be rationalized that
MRA isnow being termed as Mushroom science and technology (MST). It is self-explained and
works onthe principle of solid and liquid state fermentation technology with involvement of basic
inputs likemushroom species, their supporting substrates, temperature and humidity. It is area of
research under which various permutations and combinations ofthese inputs should be studied not
only for our benefits but also for the environment health. All areas of MST have series of phases
and require a set of scientific and technological knowledge to be completed for examplemushroom
production in the crop room is one of the major objectsstarted from choice of desirable mushroom
fruits to recycling of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) as mentioned in the beginning of this
chapter. Similarly crop husbandry is the result successiveevents. Above all events are based on
techniques, so they always are under the governance of manhimself. Though MST is thriving
worldwide day by day but with challenges of low acceptability by the people, fast depletion of
mushroom/fungal biodiversity due to urbanization, polluting environments, deforestation, climate
change; Lack of good quality mushroom species, complicated technologies involve in MST and
unknown biology of mushrooms. These challenges can overwhelm with future strategies based on
the promotion of mushrooms among the people, genetic resources enhancement of mushrooms,
refinements and validation of techniques, study of medicinal chemical compounds and recycling of
SMS.
REFERENCES
• Beyer D (2005). Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) research in the US. AMGA J. Summer Issue:
31-32.
• Noble R (2005). Spent mushroom substrate –an alternative use. AMGA J. Summer Issue. 33-35.
• Stamets P (2005). Mycelium Running: How Mushroom Can Help Save the World. Ten
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