Cultivation of mushroom (<i>Pleurotus ostreatus</i>) using corn cobs and saw dust as the major substrate

Abstract

An investigation was carried out on the cultivation of mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) using corn cobs and saw dust as the main substrates. Lignocellulosic wastes such as corn cobs and saw dust were packaged inside heat – resistant polythene bags and pasteurized before being seeded with 7.5% w/w millet spawn of Pleurotus ostreatus and incubated at room temperature (250C) for six weeks. Thereafter, they were exposed by incising small stripes on the bag to give a cold shock to initiate fruiting. The result of this study showed that corn cobs had an average yield of
1,248g per flush and saw dust 526.50g per flush. Thus, indicating that saw dust gave a significantly (p<0.05) higher yield (70%) than saw dust (30%). Mushroom cultivation in Nigeria (Developing Country) is of great importance because it converts agricultural and industrial waste (which can pollute the environment) into edible protein; it can serve as a means of generating employment for the Nigeria populace because it can be grown all year round; if exported, mushrooms will be an important source of foreign exchange.