Performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in different local agricultural waste materials

The present study was conducted to evaluate different substrates for establishment of yield performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The substrates were prepared from single or mixture of different agricultural waste materials supplemented with lime and water as additive to each substrate. A total of eight substrates labeled 1 to 8 were prepared. Substrate 4, which is a mixture of palm kernel cake and maize cob, had the highest mycelia growth rate (80%), sprouted 15 days after inoculation and yielded the highest total fresh weight for a period of 10 harvests (2957.5 g). Substrate 3, a mixture of palm kernel cake and sawdust, had 78% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 16 days after inoculation and yielded 2535.7 g fresh mushroom. Substrate 2 is a mixture of maize straw and sawdust and had 75% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 17 days after inoculation and a total of 2207.4 g fresh weight. The mushroom grown in substrates 4, 3 and 2 produced bigger and firmer fruiting bodies, which differed significantly (P < 0.05) from the other substrates. Substrates 1 and 5 which had 50% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 31 and 33 days after inoculation and 1408.8 and 1092.6 g, respectively, were recorded after a period of 10 harvests. Substrate 4, 3 or 2 is therefore recommended for cultivation of oyster mushroom.   Key words: Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), mycelial growth, palm kernel cake (PKC), substrate, maturity.