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Performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on paddy straw, water hyacinth and their combinations

Summary

This study tested different combinations of rice straw and water hyacinth (an invasive aquatic weed) as growing substrates for oyster mushrooms in Nepal. Rice straw alone produced the best mushroom yield and profit. While water hyacinth alone is not suitable as a substrate, mixing it with rice straw at a 2:1 ratio could reduce costs while helping control this problematic weed. This research provides farmers with practical guidance on sustainable mushroom cultivation methods.

Background

Oyster mushrooms are the second-largest genus of cultivated mushrooms worldwide. Rice straw is commonly used as a substrate but faces seasonal unavailability and high costs in Nepal. Water hyacinth is an invasive aquatic weed that could potentially serve as an alternative substrate for mushroom cultivation.

Objective

To investigate the performance of Pleurotus ostreatus on different substrate combinations including rice straw alone, rice straw with water hyacinth in ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 to determine optimal combinations for yield and profitability.

Results

Rice straw alone produced the best results across all parameters: 11.5 days to colonization, 13.25 days to pinhead formation, 1.53 kg fresh yield with 153.16% biological efficiency, and B:C ratio of 1.24. Rice straw and water hyacinth (2:1) was the second-best treatment. Increased water hyacinth ratios resulted in delayed colonization, reduced yield, and lower profitability.

Conclusion

Paddy straw alone is the optimal substrate for Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation. While water hyacinth cannot be used as a sole substrate due to low nutritional value and high moisture content, mixing it with rice straw at a 2:1 ratio can reduce production costs while managing this invasive weed in an environmentally friendly manner.
  • Published in:Heliyon,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 37636434, DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19051
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