Compost of spent mushroom substrate and chicken manure as a growth substrate improves rice seedling quality and reduces the spread of potential soil-borne pathogens.

This study was carried out to determine the impacts co-compost of Pleurotus geesteranus spent mushroom substrate and chicken manure (SMC) on seedling quality, rhizosphere microbial characteristics, as well as fungal pathogens in rice seedling substrates. Results showed that incorporating SMC within the substrate, especially 50% volume (R2), increased rice seedling growth and vitality without external fertilization at the seedling growth stage. Moreover, SMC amendment increased microbial activity, and promoted rice seedling recruitment of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and fungi (PGPF), and significantly reduced the abundance of pathogenic fungi, especially Magnaporthe grisea , and thus reducing soil-borne diseases. It is conducive to the sustainable development of cultivated land and agricultural waste recycling.