Cultivation potential of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) using agricultural wastes as substrates

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the suitability of five different substrates-coir pith, finger millet straw, banana fibre, sawdust, and sugarcane trash-for oyster mushroom cultivation. Plastic bags were filled with 250 g of substrate and arranged in a completely randomized block design. Throughout the cultivation process, various parameters including spawn running, pinhead formation, fruiting body development, number of caps, yield per bed (g), and biological efficiency were monitored. Results revealed that spawn running occurred within 18 and 19 days in sawdust and sugarcane trash respectively, while pinhead formation took place at 21 and 22
days in the same substrates. Sawdust and sugarcane trash exhibited the highest biological efficiency, with mushroom yields of 826 and 780 g/bed, respectively. Based on these findings, sawdust was identified as the most suitable substrate for oyster mushroom production, followed by sugarcane trash.