Cultivation of Pleurotus Osteratus Var Florida on Corn Husk Using Different Concentrations of Poultry Waste as Supplement.

Abstract

The possibility of cultivating Pleurotus osteratus var florida on corn husk using different concentrations of poultry waste as supplement was investigated. Two percent lime was applied to stabilize the pH of the substrate. Poultry wastes at 0,1.5,2.5, and 3.5% on dry weight basis of the substrate was used to enrich the corn husk. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD). Two mushroom flushes were obtained during the production cycle which provided the accumulated yield used in the production analysis. Effects of different concentration of poultry waste on the growth cycle,dry matter loss,age of the substrate at first fruiting,mean mushroom weight/yield (MMW),mean mushroom number (MMW),biological efficiency (B.E), bioconversion efficiency and mushroom quality of Pleurotus osteratus var florida grown on the husk was evaluated. The data resulting from the experiment was analysed using means and percentage. Pleurotus osteratus var florida grown on husk had 50% growth/colonization after 37 days of spawning. 3.7% poultry waste was the first to produce fruit body after 40 days of inoculation (3 days after opening). The effects of different concentration of poultry wastes on the mean yield showed that there was no significant difference between them at (p=0.05). The highest mushroom quality (big) was obtained from 0% poultry waste treatment,while the least quality (very small) was obtained from the corn husk that received 2.5% poultry waste. The biological efficiency ranged from 2.25-2.50%. Dry matter loss was in the range of 51.7-60%. There was no significant difference when the different enrichment levels were compared with one another for the mushroom bioconversion efficiency. Corn husk has proved to be nutritionally strong enough to support the cultivation of Plerotus osteratus var florida when enriched with poultry wastes as additive.