STUDY ON PERFORMANCE OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (Pleurotus ostreatus) GROWN ON SUPPLEMENTED RICE STRAW

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to investigate the performance of different levels of cow dung, wheat bran and chemical fertilizer as supplement with rice straw on the yield and proximate composition of oyster mushroom. The highest mycelium running rate (0.73 cm/day) was observed due to rice straw supplemented with chemical fertilizer (N=0.5%, P=0.3% K=0.3%). The highest time from stimulation to primordia initiation (8.37 days) was observed in (Rice straw + 0% chemical fertilizer) treatment. The lowest time from primordia initiation to harvest (3.17 days) and average number of fruiting body/packet (58.02) was observed due to rice straw supplemented with chemical fertilizer (N=0.4%, P=0.3% K=0.3%). The highest average weight of individual fruiting body (4.71g), the highest crude fiber (24.03 %) and the lowest lipid (3.34 %) were found from rice straw supplemented with 10% cow dung. The highest average number of primordia/packet (73.67), the highest biological yield (247.92 g), economic yield (241.65 g), dry yield (26.93 g), biological efficiency (93.56 %), benefit cost ratio (6.02) and the highest dry matter percentage of (9.92 %) were observed from rice straw supplemented with chemical fertilizer (N=0.5%, P=0.3% K=0.3%). The highest moisture content (91.08 %) was observed in (Rice straw + 20% wheat bran) treatment. The highest protein (32.17 %) content was observed in (Rice straw + N=0.6%, P=0.3% K=0.3%) treatment. The highest carbohydrate (56.00 %) was found in (Rice straw + 0% chemical fertilizer) treatment and ash (8.40 %) was found in (Rice straw + N=0.6%, P=0.3% K=0.3%) treatment. Among the treatments, Rice straw + chemical fertilizer (N=0.5%, P=0.3% K=0.3%) can be recommended as an economically effective due to the highest yield. On the other hand Rice straw +10% cow dung

or Rice straw + 30% wheat bran

treatment may be a fair option.