A comparative study of peat moss and coco peat as base for truffle spore amendment substrate

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Authors

Ken Fry¹

Conference / event: NATGA Truffle Congress (North American Truffle Growers Association), October 2023 (Paso Robles, California, United States)

Poster summary: This experiment analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing peat moss and coco peat as primary components in spore amendment substrates for truffle cultivation. The main focus of the study centers around the substrates' capacity to retain moisture over an extended period, evaluated using pF measurements. Additionally, the study aims to compare and contrast the attributes of the composition of these materials. While peat moss has historically demonstrated consistent water-holding capabilities, concerns regarding its environmental impact warrant consideration. Coco peat, on the other hand, may serve as a more eco-friendly alternative. The outcomes of this study will furnish truffle growers with evidence-based guidance for selecting substrates. Additionally, as sustainable practices gain precedence, this research contributes to the sector by underscoring the significance of substrate choice in achieving resource-efficient and environmentally conscious truffle cultivation.

Keywords: Truffle, Trufficulture, Spore Amendment, T. melanosporum, T. borchii, T. aestivum

Additional information

Data availability statement: The datasets generated during and / or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Creative Commons license: Copyright © 2023 Fry. This is an open access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.