Yield Response and Nutritional Value of White Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius) in Different Mixing Ratios of Hardwood Sawdust

This study investigated the effects of the different mixing ratios of acacia and mango hardwood sawdust on the growth, yield, and nutritional content of the white oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius). Six treatments were utilized: Farmers’ Practice (T1), 100% Mango Sawdust (T2), 100% Acacia Sawdust (T3), 50% Mango Sawdust: 50% Acacia Sawdust (T4), 75% Mango Sawdust: 25% Acacia Sawdust (T5) 75% Acacia Sawdust: 25% Mango Sawdust (T6). Each treatment was replicated four times and arranged in a complete randomized design (CRD). The collected data were reported from three flushes and presented in means plus the standard error mean. Mycelial running completion was found to be statistically similar among treatments and comparable with the rice straw substrate (control). The combination of acacia and mango sawdust (T4, T6) provided the shortest number of days for the first formation of fruiting bodies. The number of fruiting bodies in the mango and acacia sawdust treatments was statistically comparable to the control. The 100% mango sawdust provided significant mushroom yield in the different flushes. Mixed sawdust treatments (T4, T5, and T6) were observed to have significantly higher crude protein, crude fiber, and ash content, indicative of their potential as food and feed sources. Overall, the findings of this study revealed the potential of hardwood sawdust in different mixing ratios to be an alternative to rice straw when it comes to growing white oyster mushrooms. It should be noted, nevertheless, that further investigations are recommended to better establish and validate the present findings.URL: https://actonlineedu.org/ijaapr-v2i1-20221202