Cost effective pre-treatment of chicken manure for controlllng nematodes and fungal flora in synthetic compost used for the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) singer

Chicken manure is used as a nitrogen source in the synthetic compost for the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus. It was found to harbour a heavy population of pathogenic nematodes and harmful fungal flora, thereby acting as a major source of infestation. Pasteurization is the best treatment for elimination of the nematodes and fungal flora from the chicken manure. Out of the three pesticides tried., dichlorvos was the most effective foHowed by carbofuran and formalin, respectively for controlling Aphelenchoides composticola, Rhabditis spp. and some major competitor/pathogenic moulds., Therefore, pre-treatment of chicken manure with dichlorvos @ 0.04 per cent under a polythene cover for 144 hours is recommended. it reduces the cost of the treatment to one sixth of that otherwise needed to treat the compost.