Effect of different agro-waste substrates and their combinations on the yield and biological efficiency of Pleurotus sajor- caju

Abstract

Pleurotus sajor-caju Singer (Fr.) was cultivated on different agro-wastes viz. soybean straw, wheat straw, paddy straw, sugarcane bagasses, sun flower stalks, maize stalks, domestic waste, used tea leaves, fruit waste, semal flowers, news paper, bamboo leaves, saw dust and their combinations in 1:1 proportion to determine the effect of these agro waste on yield, growth and biological efficiency. Soybean straw showed significantly highest yield (with 93.3% B.E.). Semal flowers required lesser time for spawn run (14.33 days) and pin head appearance (18.33 days). Among all the combinations soybean straw + wheat straw showed significantly highest yield (with 87.3% B.E.) and soybean straw + saw dust showed significantly lesser yield (with 43.8% B.E.). Except Saw dust and News paper other test substrates were found suitable for the growth of Pleurotus sajor-caju.