Agricultural Wastes as Substrates for Mushroom Cultivation

Abstract

As the cost of pararubber sawdust which is the main substrate for mushroom cultivation has increased, agricultural wastes were studied to be used as alternative substrates. This study was conducted at the Chiang Rai Horticultural Research Centre during October 2008 – September 2010. Rice straw, corn husk, corn cob and rice husk were used to cultivate Pleurotus spp. And compared with pararubber sawdust as control. Mycelia of two types of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) namely Hungarian and Bhutan types. Both types had grown well on every substrate except rice husk. The yield of Pleurotus sp. (Hungarian type) obtained from corn husk and corn cob were not significantly different from those obtained from pararubber sawdust. However, the yield of Bhutan type was different from Hungarian type. The pararubber sawdust has the highest yield of Bhutan type and had been significantly different from those obtained from corn husks and corn cob. Yield of both types obtained from rice straw were the lowest ranks. Another experiment was done using rice husk mixed in different ratios by volume with sawdust to grow Pleurotus spp, Lentinus squarrosulus and L. polychrous. The mycelia of each mushroom colonized well on every combination of substrates. Pararubber sawdust has the highest yield of 2 types of Pleurotus spp. And L. squarrosulus followed by 2:1 and 3:1 ratio of sawdust and rice husk with significantly differences. However, the yield of L. polychrous was different from the others. Yield obtained from 1:1 ratio was not significantly different from pararubber sawdust as comparison. Therefore fifty percent of rice husk can be mixed whit pararubber sawdust to grow L. polychrous  for the sake of fifty percent saved.