SOIL AND HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF MUSHROOM GROWING

Soil samples were collected from six different localities and habitats in the Gireniz valley of Denizli province, Turkey, where six species of mushroom (Agaricus langei, Lactarius salmonicolor, Morchella conica, Rhizopogon roseolus, Russula delica and Tricholoina terreum) grow naturally and plentifully, and which are known as the 'home' of these mushrooms, and their physical properties (soil reaction, salt, saturation, organic matter and lime) and chemical properties (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) were determined. In addition, the vegetation, elevation and growing seasons of these mushrooms were studied in order to investigate the effects of habitat characteristics, on their growth.It was found that mushroom growth required a soil that was moderately or slightly alkaline (pH 7.70-8.19), non-saline (432-550 mu S/cm), clayey (74-109%) or clayey-loamy (67-69%) in structure, having 1.56-5.49% humus as organic matter, and chalky (1.26-33.48%). Also, such macro- and micro elements as P (3.64-10.58 mg kg(-1)), K (221.4-381.4 mg kg(-1)), Ca (5917-9195 mg kg(-1)), Mg (425.1-1202 mg kg(-1)), Cu (0.459-1.334 mg kg(-1)), Fe (6.91-47.90 mg kg(-1)), Mn (4.43-30.08 mg kg(-1)) and Zn (0.155-1.567 mg kg(-1)) are needed for the growth and reproduction of mushrooms. It was established that the concentration in Na in the soils was very low (10.92-20.85 mg kg(-1)). It was determined in our study that mushrooms needed suitable vegetation, elevation and temperature in order to grow plentifully in a given area. It was also established that mushroom variety was high in areas where plant variety was also high.It is thought that areas where mushrooms grow plentifully in the wild will be effective in protecting or bringing under cultivation various edible mushrooms which have their own characteristic habitat, climatic and soil conditions, and which are used as economic, food or medical resources, whether locally or more generally. Also, some mushroom species could be indicators of the environment where they are found or of the soils in which they grow