Oyster Mushroom [Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm.] Cultivation using Agricultural Wastes

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the nutritional profile and growth performance of mushrooms cultivated on different substrates. Substrates consisted of agricultural wastes (fresh and composted sawdust, paper and fluted pumpkin stems) and their combinations. In this study, number of fruiting bodies produced, stipe length and girth, pileus diameter, and fresh and dry weights of mushrooms were recorded. The results showed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the number of days taken for each substrate to obtain a complete mycelia run with fresh sawdust substrate (FS) having the highest (43), and mixture of composted sawdust, paper and fluted pumpkin stem (CSPPuS) having the least (30). Accordingly, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the number of fruiting bodies harvested from each substrate (mushroom yield) with CSPPuS having the highest fresh (32.99+0.15 g) and dry weight (5.82+0.68 g) of mushroom and also the highest number of fruiting bodies (36). There was also a significant difference (P<0.05) in the nutritional content of fruiting bodies among substrates. The highest protein content was obtained from CSPPuS (28.88+0.41 %). In conclusion, fluted pumpkin stem and paper can serve as good substrates for Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation.