| Summary: | Composts of spent mushrooms substrates can be an alternative for the partial replacement of peat as growing media in horticulture. Three mature composts from <i>Agaricus bisporus</i> (Ag), <i>Pleurotus ostreatus</i> (Pl), and 70% Ag:30% Pl (AgPl) production were used as partial components of peat growing media, used at a 1:4 compost:peat ratio for growing red baby leaf lettuce. They showed higher yields, between 3 and 7 times more than that for peat itself, even under the pressure of the plant pathogen <i>Pythium irregulare</i>. AgPl showed the higher suppressiveness (50%) against <i>Pythium irregulare</i> than Ag- (38%) or Pl- (15%) supplemented media. The combination of these raw materials and a suitable composting process is important for obtaining mature compost for use as a partial component of peat-based growing media.
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