Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The effectiveness of several agricultural substrates for oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) production was investigated. The experiment comprised five treatments, with three replicates, using two base substrates: banana leaves and sawdust. It was arranged in a completely randomized design. Lime and water were added to each farm substrate or treatment, which comprised combinations of different agricultural wastes. Some substrates were also prepared from a single agricultural waste combined with water and lime. Trt5 (75% banana leaves: 25% sawdust) was the most effective of the five treatments, producing the highest total yield of 1092.69 g per 2 kg of dry substrate. Sawdust (Trt1) produced the lowest yield (657 g), possibly owing to the presence of several phenolic compounds. Compared with the other substrates, banana leaves required less time for mycelial colonisation, fruiting and harvesting, whereas sawdust required more time. Trt2 (100% banana leaves) produced the largest cap diameter (7.85 cm) and stipe girth (4.03 cm). Trt5, which combined sawdust and banana leaves, had the highest reported biological efficiency (127.35%), whereas Trt1 (100% sawdust) had the lowest (65.83%). In conclusion, the substrate containing 75% banana leaves and 25% sawdust produced the highest yield of P. ostreatus, followed by Trt2, which consisted entirely of banana leaves.