Development and Physical Characterization of Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Pots from Spent mushroom substrate
Keywords:
Eco-friendly biodegradable pots; Spent mushroom substrate; Earthworm castings; Cow manure; Hongtae Pak ChoyAbstract
Plastic pots and nursery bags are a major source of environmental problems because they are not biodegradable. This research aimed to develop eco-friendly biodegradable pots using spent mushroom substrate (SMS) combined with earthworm castings (EC) and cow manure (CM), using tapioca paste as a binder. The study investigated the effects of varying proportions of SMS, earthworm castings, and cow manure on the physical and mechanical properties of the pots, as well as plant growth. The experiment consisted of five formulations: 1) 100 g of SMS (Biopot-A), 2) SMS : EC at 75:25 g (Biopot-B), 3) SMS : EC at 50:50 g (Biopot-C), 4) SMS : CM at 75:25 g (Biopot-D) and 5) SMS : CM at 50:50 g (Biopot-E), with plastic pots used as the control. The plant growth experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a 95% confidence level. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationships among pot properties. The results indicated that Biopot-E exhibited the highest density, porosity, and puncture resistance. Conversely, Biopot-A showed the highest water absorption and swelling. Density was positively correlated with porosity and puncture resistance (p<0.01), while porosity was negatively correlated with water absorption and swelling (p<0.01). In the plant growth experiment, Biopot-A showed the highest number of emerged seedlings (100%). Four weeks after transplantation, Biopot-E had the highest mean values for plant height (21.40±0.87 cm), leaf width (4.33±0.29 cm), number of leaves (6.67±0.58 leaves /plant), fresh weight (7.76±0.49 g/plant), and dry weight (0.77±0.07 g/plant) (mean ± SD). Biopot-D and Biopot-E did not differ significantly for several growth parameters but differed significantly from the control (p<0.05).
References
Chaichan, W., Sawain, A., & Chaichan, W. (2018). Plant nutrients and biodegradable period of biological plant pot. Wichcha Journal Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, 37 (Special Issue), 12-26. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/wichcha/article/view/124537
Department of Agriculture. (2014). Notification of the Department of Agriculture on organic fertilizer standards B.E. 2557. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. https://www.doa.go.th/ard/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FEDOA11.pdf
Fuentes, R.A., Berthe, J.A., Barbosa, S.E., & Castillo, L.A. (2021). Development of biodegradable pots from different agroindustrial wastes and byproducts. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 30, e00338. https://doi:10.1016/j.susmat.2021.e00338.
Gordy, E., Lin, C.Y., Nackley, L., Long, F., Liu, H., Jung, J., & Zhao, Y. (2024). Development and validation of hydrophobic molded pulp nursery pots made of hemp hurd. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 42, e01180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2024.e01180
Harahap, H., Nasution, H., Manurung, R., Yustira, A., & Rashid, A.A. (2025). Physical characteristics of biodegradable pots from empty fruit bunches (EFB) and sawdust waste as planting media. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 11, 101193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101193
He, J., Zeng, G., Liu, Z., Guo, Z., Zhang, W., Li, Y., Zhou, Y., & Xu, H. (2024). Replacing traditional nursery soil with spent mushroom substrate improves rice seedling quality and soil substrate properties. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int., 31(27), 39625-39636. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33723-x
Homkhiew, C., Thammachot, N., & Boonchouytan, W. (2023). Development of biodegradable pots from wastes of Cockle Mushroom cultivation [In Thai]. Wichcha Journal Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, 42(1), 77-92. https://doi.org/10.65217/wichchajnstru.2023.v42i1.256634
Huda, N., Rana, M.R., Huq, M.A., Al-Mamun, A., Rahman, S.T., Alam, M.K., & Rahman, M.M. (2024). Understanding vermicompost and organic manure interactions: impact on toxic elements, nitrification activity, comammox Nitrospira inopinata, and archaea/bacteria. Environ Monit Assess, 196(4), 355. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12491-8?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Inchomrit, P., Pornpibool, K., Pranon, A., Theamdee, P., & Sangsuwan, P. (2024). Biodegradable pot production from dried leaves and cow manure. The Journal of Industrial Technology Thepsatri Rajabhat University, 19(2). 116-123. https://itechjournal.tru.ac.th/ojs/index.php/tru-i-tech/article/view/231
Jaya, J.D., Elma, M., Sunardi, S., & Nugroho, A. (2022). Physical and mechanical properties of biodegradable pot derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch and sodium alginate. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 65, e22210789. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4324-2022210789
Kaewmanee, J. (2021). The production of biodegradable flowerpot from sludge of rubber factory with waste from mushroom culture and palm bunches. ASEAN Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports, 24(1), 84-93. https://doi.org/10.55164/ajstr.v24i1.240816
Kunthadong, P., Bunkerd, R., Chotichayapong, C., & Sawadee, P. (2025). Development of biodegradable plant pots from thermoplastic starch/water hyacinth/peanut hulls polymer composites. Recent Science and Technology, 17(3), 262954. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/rmutsvrj/article/view/262954
Mwangi, R.W., Mustafa, M., Kappel, N., Csambalik, L., & Szabó, A. (2024). Practical applications of spent mushroom compost in cultivation and disease control of selected vegetable species. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 26, 1918-1933.
Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. (2023). The thirteenth national economic and social development plan (2023–2027). https://www.nesdc.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/article_file_20230307173518.pdf
Oyege, I., & Balaji Bhaskar, M.S. (2023). Effects of vermicompost on soil and plant health and promoting sustainable agriculture. Soil Syst, 7, 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040101
Phiri, R., Rangappa, S.M., Siengchin, S., Oladijo, O.P., & Dhakal, H.N. (2023). Development of sustainable biopolymer-based composites for lightweight applications from agricultural waste biomass: A review. Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research, 6(4), 436-450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aiepr.2023.04.004
Piyang, T., Chaichan, W., & Sagulsawasdipan, K. (2018). Environment-friendly plant pot production from palm oil sludge and mushroom cultured waste [In Thai]. RMUTSV Research Journal, 10(3), 497-511. https://www.repository.rmutsv.ac.th/handle/123456789/1125
Rafee, S.N.A.M., Lee, Y.L., Jamalludin, M.R., Abdul Razak, N., Makhtar, N.I., & Ismail, R.I. (2019). Effect of different ratios of biomaterials to banana peels on the weight loss of biodegradable pots. Acta Technologica Agriculturae, 22(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.2478/ata-2019-0001
Raviv, M., & Lieth J.H. (2007). Soilless culture: Theory and practice (1st ed.). Elsevier.
Rehman, S.U., De Castro, F., Aprile, A., Benedetti, M., & Fanizzi, F.P. (2023). Vermicompost: Enhancing plant growth and combating abiotic and biotic stress. Agronomy, 13(4), 1134.
Ruggeri, G., Mazzocchi, C., Bergamelli, C., & Tosca, A. (2024). Plant the pot! Understanding consumer willingness to pay for sustainability in garden shop products. Journal of Cleaner Production, 477, 143855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143855
Saepoo, T., Sarak, S., Mayakun, J., Eksomtramage, T., & Kaewtatip, K. (2023). Thermoplastic starch composite with oil palm mesocarp fiber waste and its application as biodegradable seeding pot. Carbohydrate Polymers, 299, 120221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120221
Sangsuwan, P., Detraksa, J., & Inchomrit, P. (2025). Biodegradable plant pots made from dried banana pseudo-stems enriched with a Bacillus sp.-biochar composite as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic pots. Indonesian Journal of Biotechnology, 30(3), 168-177. https://doi.org/10.22146/ijbiotech.107036
Schettini, E., Santagata, G., Malinconico, M., Immirzi, B., Scarascia Mugnozza, G., & Vox, G. (2013). Recycled wastes of tomato and hemp fibres for biodegradable pots: Physico-chemical characterization and field performance. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 70, 9-19. 10.1016/j.resconrec.2012.11.002
Supriyadi, S., Widjajani, B.W., & Murniyanto, E. (2022). The effect of rice husk biochar and cow manure on some soil characteristics, N and P uptake and plant growth of soybean in Alfisol. Journal of Tropical Soils, 27(2), 59-66. DOI: 10.5400/jts.2022.v27i2.59-66
Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Moller, I. M., & Murphy, A. (2015). Plant physiology and development (6th ed.). Sinauer Associates.
Tomadoni, B., Merino, D., Casalongué, C., & Alvarez, V. (2020). Biodegradable materials for planting pots. Materials Research Foundations, 68, 85-103. https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644900659-4
Vieira Junior, W. G., Caitano, C. E. C., Alves, L. da S., Teixeira, P. A. G., Noble, R., Pardo, J. E., & Zied, D. C. (2025). From waste to resource: Sustainable reuse of spent shiitake mushroom substrate in subsequent production cycles. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 200, 106034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2025.106034
Zhang, X., Wang, C., & Chen, Y. (2019). Properties of selected biodegradable seedling plug-trays. Scientia Horticulturae, 249, 177-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.01.055
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Faculty of Liberal Art and Science, Roi-Ed Rajabhat University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
บทความที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์เป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของคณะศิลปศาสตร์และวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏร้อยเอ็ด
ข้อความที่ปรากฏในบทความแต่ละเรื่องในวารสารวิชาการเล่มนี้เป็นความคิดเห็นส่วนตัวของผู้เขียนแต่ละท่านไม่เกี่ยวข้องกับมหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฎร้อยเอ็ด และคณาจารย์ท่านอื่นๆในมหาวิทยาลัยฯ แต่อย่างใด ความรับผิดชอบองค์ประกอบทั้งหมดของบทความแต่ละเรื่องเป็นของผู้เขียนแต่ละท่าน หากมีความผิดพลาดใดๆ ผู้เขียนแต่ละท่านจะรับผิดชอบบทความของตนเองแต่ผู้เดียว
