Agro-industrial waste based substrate for production of two major cultivated oyster mushrooms in sub-Himalayan West Bengal

Aim: To compare the outcomes of various agro-industrial wastes on the growth, yield and nutritional contents of two major cultivated oyster mushrooms, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus djamor. Methodology: card board (7: 3), waste paper (7: 3), rice husk (17:3) and jack fruit saw dust (7:3). After sterilization substrates were inoculated with mature spawn and placed in cropping room. Locally available agro-industrial wastes were utilized as substrate in five formulations including rice straw alone and in combination with Results: Total yield, biological efficiency and nutritional contents were found better in the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus djamor cultivated on rice straw as the sole substrate than the mixed substrate formulations. Total colonization period (22.6 days forP. ostreatus and 20.2 days for P. djamor) was quite less for both the oyster mushroom cultivated in rice husk mixed substrate among mixed substrate formulations. Among mixed substrate formulations, highest total yield was obtained from waste paper mixed substrate for Pleurotus ostreatus (713.8 g) and card board mixed substrate for Pleurotus djamor (737.7 g). The highest carbohydrate content in Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus djamor were found in card board mixed substrate. Total protein content was high in fruiting bodies cultivated on saw dust mixed substrate for both the oyster mushrooms. Interpretation: concluded that these agro-industrial waste appears to be the promising ingredients in combination with rice straw for cultivation of oyster mushroom. Card board, waste paper, rice husk and saw dust mixed substrates showed relatively high fruiting body yield and nutritional values. It can be