Determinants of biomass conversion efficiency in Agaricus subrufescens: A systematic review and hierarchical modeling approach

Abstract

Edible mushroom cultivation efficiently converts lignocellulosic residues into valuable biomass within circular bioeconomy systems. However, methodological heterogeneity limits comparability, process evaluation, and the future integration of mass balance estimation in Agaricus subrufescens cultivation systems.This study presents a systematic review and quantitative synthesis of A. subrufescens cultivation studies to identify key determinants of bioconversion efficiency and to explore methodological parameters for improving comparability across waste-to-biomass systems. A comprehensive search identified 32,718 records, of which 11 studies met the eligibility criteria for quantitative analysis. Biological efficiency was normalized using a time- standardized metric (BE50), calculated by standardizing cumulative biological efficiency according to the total cultivation duration and expressing productivity on a 50-day equivalent basis.Hierarchical mixed-effects frameworks were applied to evaluate the influence of compost composition and casing material on BE50. Peat-based casing systems exhibited approximately 10–11% higher BE50 than soil- based casings. In contrast, compost carbon and nitrogen content did not show consistent independent linear associations with BE50 within the evaluated ranges, although exploratory analyses suggested potential non- linear and strain-dependent responses. Hierarchical analyses allowed general comparisons across studies; how-ever, certain non-linear patterns and strain-dependent responses may not be fully captured by this type of model.Overall, biomass conversion efficiency in A. subrufescens is governed by interactions among casing material, substrate properties, and fungal genetics. The use of time-standardized productivity metrics such as BE50, together with the evaluation of alternative materials to replace peat-based systems, may improve cross-study comparability and contribute to future environmental and process-level assessments of sustainable biomass conversion systems.