Effect Of Using Various Substrates On Cultivation Of Pleurotus Sajor-Caju

Abstract

The unmanageable agricultural waste comprises of structural polymers, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin can be led to pollutions, thus it can be used as a mushroom substrate. Lignocellulosic materials are most favorable feedstock as renewable and natural resource. Forestry and agricultural practices generated a large amount of ligncelluosic waste and promoted to serious problematic environmental pollution. It can be easily broken down by lignocellulotic enzymes. In this study, an attempt was made to evaluate the effect of various substrates on cultivation of Pleurotus sajor-caju. The substrates used in this study were tissue paper, rice husk ash and rubber sawdust. All of the substrates were added with rice bran and calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Then, the mixtures were transferred into plastic sized 8 cm x 4.5 cm and were pasteurized in the steamer for 1 hour at 60 degrees C - 100 degrees C. After that they were cooled overnight at 25 degrees C - 30 degrees C. The spawn were inoculated into the bag and incubated in incubation room. The media bags were incubated until mycelium fully colonized and watering was done twice a day. The parameters studies were included spawn running, number of fruit body, total of stipe length, weight of fruit body and biological efficiency. Results showed that the fastest spawn running and highest number of fruits body, total of stipe length, weight of fruit body and biological efficiency are found using tissue paper substrates. In contrast the rubber sawdust showed the lowest values of spawn running, total of stipe length, weight of fruit body and biological efficiency. It can be concluded that the tissue paper is one of promising substrate which can be used in growing of Pleurotus sajor-caju due to lower cost and easy to purchase as compared to other substrates.