CULTIVATION OF INDIGENOUS MUSHROOMS USING AGRICULTURAL SUBSTRATES

Abstract

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) have the ability to grow on a variety of agricultural and industrial wastes. The aim of this study was to domesticate indigenous oyster mushrooms that grow in the wild. Different agricultural substrates including straws of wheat, barley and beans, rice husks, maize cobs and sawdust were tested individually and in mixtures for indigenous oyster mushroom yield. Bean straw + maize cob gave the highest biological efficiency (BE) of 81.8% while bean straw alone gave BE of 81.6%. Sawdust had the lowest BE of 12.9% but a combination of bean straw and sawdust had a BE of 62.3%. Indigenous mushroom can be domesticated to increase food security and curb poverty.