Using residues as substitutes for farm inputs and soil amendments

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

After the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) harvest, a large volume of substrate is left over and is usually discarded. This project, which is also my undergraduate thesis, evaluates the nutritional composition of this spent mushroom substrate in different formulations, to find out whether it can return to the field as a biofertilizer.

What we investigate

Macro- and micronutrient contents of the substrate under different treatments;
The relationship between substrate formulation and mushroom yield;
The potential agricultural use of the material, closing the production cycle.

The first results are part of a paper for CIC 2026.

Honorable mention at the 38th CIC Unesp

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Our study “Nutritional characterization of spent Pleurotus ostreatus compost for use as a biofertilizer” received an honorable mention in the first round of the 38th Unesp Undergraduate Research Congress (CIC). This round took place in Ilha Solteira (São Paulo, Brazil) on 23–24 September 2026. With the mention, the study advanced to the second round of the event.

This year’s theme was Unesp 50 Years: Science, Education, Innovation and Transformation in the Territories.

Title slide of the presentation (in Portuguese).

About the study

After oyster mushrooms are harvested, a large volume of growing substrate is left over: the spent compost. In this study, we analyzed its nutritional composition to assess its use as a biofertilizer, turning a residue into a source of nutrients for plants. Learn more on the page.

Authors: Gabriel Felix da Silva, Philippe Solano Toledo Silva and Ana Maria Rodrigues Cassiolato (FEIS/UNESP).

Thanks to my advisor, Prof. Dr. Ana Maria Rodrigues Cassiolato, to my colleagues at the FEIS/UNESP Microbiology Laboratory and DEFERS, and to our partners Funghi & Flora and Cogumelos Coloniais.

Circular Economy |

Using residues as substitutes for farm inputs and soil amendments

Honorable mention at the 38th CIC Unesp

About the study