ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate the growth and yield performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on different substrates of bio- waste carried out in Wood Technology and Laboratory Unit, MOUAU, Abia State. Five different substrates were used to grow the oyster mushroom in completely randomized design (CRD) with replicates. The results on the growth performance of mushroom reveals cap diameter were higher in corncob, hardwood and lower in softwood (50.63cm, 48.93cm &8.2cm) respectively. Stipe length were higher hardwood (20cm), rice straw (16.67cm) and lower in softwood (1.7cm). Fruits numbers were higher in corncob (15.57), rice straw (15.9) and lower in softwood (1.0). Result in variation of weight on oyster mushroom reveals that fresh weight on (P<0.05) shows no-significant difference while weight variations in dry weight on (P<0.05) reveals corncob were significant at (0.0532). Rbsult on fruiting duration variation reveals that corncob, rice straw, softwoods were significant while the composite mixture were non-significant. Variation in harvesting duration reveals that softwood, rice straw, corncobs were significantly higher than composite and hardwood. Biological efficiency result reveals rice straw, corncob showed the highest percentage 13.5% and 12.8% and show lower in rice straw (0.01%). The result on the nutritional composition of harvested mushroom shows that moisture content, crude protein, dry matter and carbohydrate are significantly higher in content while lower nutritional composition content were seen in fat, crude fibre and ash. Considering all the parameters investigated; corncob and rice straw are recommended as the best substrate for the cultivation of oyster mushroom for better growth and yield performance than other biowaste substrate medium. Therefore, the mushroom cultivation could become one of the most profitable agribusiness that would produce food products from different substrates and help to dispose them in an environment friendly manner.