Abstract:
The study was conducted to determine the effect of watering intervals on the yield and yield
contributing characters of oyster mushroom (Pleura/lis florida) during March to June 2007 at
Mushroom culture house, SAU. Water was sprayed on spawn packet at 24, 12,8 and 6 hours interval
with a control (no watering). The lowest duration (8.020 days) from stimulation to harvest was recorded
in watering at 6 hours interval. The highest number of fruiting body (57.54 per packet) was obtained
from watering at (, hours interval. Fresh weight of fruiting body (4.53g) was also the highest under
watering at (, hours interval. The lowest length (2.25 ern) and highest diameter (0.90 ern) of stalk; the
highest diameter (589 ern) and thickness (0.79 ern) of pileus were obtained from watering at 8 hours
interval. The highest biological yield (265.4g), economic yield (254.5g) and dry yield (25.51 g) were
counted under watering at 6 hours interval. The highest biological efficiency of 91.52% was recorded in
watering at 6 hours interval. A significant positive correlation among watering interval and dry yield,
and watering interval and biological efficiency were observed. It was found that 62.21 % of dry yield
and 63'% of biolouical efficiencv were attributed to the watering interval.,
