Abstract
The cost of substrates has been one of the challenges for mushroom cultivation. The commonly used substrates for mushroom production are usually expensive. Substrates with a high biomass return that can pose environmental problems can be good alternatives for mushroom cultivation due to multiple advantages. In this regard, the potential use of water hyacinth biomass (a troublesome aquatic weed) as an alternative substrate is worthy of being studied. This study was aimed at evaluating the potential use of water hyacinth biomass for the production of oyster mushroom. The experiment was done in a completely randomized design with nine treatments and four replications. Water hyacinth biomass was supplemented with straw (wheat, Triticum aestivum, and teff or Eragrostis Teff) at a ratio of 1 : 1, 1 : 3, or 3 : 1. The developmental parameters including days elapsed for mycelium invasion (MI), pinhead formation (PF), and the first flush (FH) were monitored. Growth parameters (cap diameter (CD) and stalk length (SL)), a yield parameter (total weight of mushroom yield), and biological efficiency (BF %) were also recorded. Finally, the economic return (ER) of all the treatments was calculated. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the significance of variation between the different parameters on the production parameters. Means were separated using the Tukey test, when F-test from ANOVA was significant at p ≤ 0.05. It was observed that water hyacinth biomass alone or supplemented with wheat or teff straw provided promising performance on oyster mushroom development, growth, yield, and biological efficiency compared to the costly substrates (wheat and teff straw). Thus, water hyacinth can be considered as a low-cost substrate for mushroom cultivation and a means to control this aquatic weed from rapid spreading.
Highlights
Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is one of the most common types of cultivated mushrooms in the world
This study was aimed at evaluating the potential use of water hyacinth biomass for the production of oyster mushroom with the view of the multiple advantages that can be gained
This was significantly different from all other treatments except T2 (100% teff straw) and T4 (75% wheat straw+25% water hyacinth)
Summary
Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is one of the most common types of cultivated mushrooms in the world. Oyster mushroom cultivation has several advantages over other edible mushrooms It grows fast under a wide range of temperature (10-30°C) and pH (6-8) [4]; secretes a wide range of enzymes that are capable of degrading lignocellulosic biomass of substrates [5]; demands a few environmental control; does not need composting of its substrate; can colonize substrates in a short period of time; and has high yield potential and high nutritional and medicinal values [6–9]. Oyster mushrooms are commonly wood and other lignocellulosic decaying fungi [11] They can grow best on different lignocellulosic agricultural wastes such as wheat straw, teff straw, paddy straw, cotton waste, coffee pulp, and sugarcane bagasse [12]. All the aforementioned substrates are in demand
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