Determination ofMineral and Proximate Compositions of Pleurotus Ostreatus Grown on three Agrowastes

Abstract

Studies on the determination of mineral and proximate compositions of Pleurotus ostreatus grown on three agrowastes were carried out in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology and Dilomat Farms and Services Limited, Rivers State University. The three agrowastes (sawdust, wood ash and cassava bran) were mixed at different concentration levels and ten treatments including the combined effect and control were obtained. Proximate compositions which were moisture, ash, lipid, fibre, carbohydrate and protein were investigated. The highest values of carbohydrate (22.61±0.00) and fibre (56.20±0.00) were observed for sawdust and cassava bran (SCB) treatment. Although, the combined effect (CE) had the highest concentrations of protein (8.70±0.00) and ash (5.42±0.02). Moisture and lipid were highest for sawdust and wood ash (SWA) and control treatments respectively. Mineral analysis of harvested P. Ostreatus showed that SWA treatment had the highest values for Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Sodium. However, the highest Calcium (25.11±0.01) and Iron (3.43±0.04) contents were recorded for SCB and CE treatments respectively. However, sawdust and cassava bran treatments with higher concentrations recorded no harvest due to contamination. Generally, the SWA treatment had higher mineral values while CE performed better for proximate composition.