Abstract: In the present study, five materials, commonly used in mushroom substrates, i.e. Zizania latifolia leaves, rice straw, corn cob, mulberry branch and peels of Carya cathayensis Sarg, were selected as study objects to test the effects of two typical disposal methods (burning straightly and waste disposal in water) on environment. It was shown that burning (both open flame and smoulder) could produce a large amount of SO₂, fine particles (PM_2.5) and NO_x. In addition, smoulder produced greater amount of emission than open flame. The burning of Zizania latifolia leaves produced the largest amount of PM_2.5 and SO₂, which were 2 773.37, 3.96 mg·m^-3, respectively, while the burning of mulberry branches generated maximum amount of NOx, which was 61.5 mg·m^-3. Waste disposal (except peels of Carya cathayensis Sarg) decreased the pH of water body, yet increased the contents of suspended solids (SS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), ammonia nitrogen, permanganate index and chromatic value in water. These indexes reached the maximum value in 30-50 d. Disposal of Zizania latifolia leaves in water led to 270.85 μg·L^-1 TN, which was 5 times greater than the others. The life cycle ‘multiplication-proliferation-death' of Escherichia coli was observed in contaminated water during 60 d and the amount of E. coli colonies reached to the highest level at 10 d, then died gradually. Both burning and disposal in water would lead to serious environment issues. Thus, it was suggested to improve the resources cyclic utilization of substrate residues.

Key words: agricultural residue, environment pollution, environment management