Development of a modified environment for oyster mushroom (<i>Pleurotus ostreatus</i>) production system for rural use in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated a Pleurotus ostreatus production in Nsukka, Nigeria, using the locally available materials. A modified controlled environmental system capable of maintaining the micro elements (temperature and relative humidity) suitable for cultivation of oyster mushroom was developed. The system was tested using substrates of biomaterial origin (saw dust and rice bran) at different levels of treatments. The substrates used were fermented sawdust supplemented with rice bran at a spawning level of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The steps involved in the cultivation were composting, bagging, spawning, incubation and cropping the substrates. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design in five replications and results analysed at P < 0.05 significant difference. The biological efficiency was determined to establish the minimum suitable nutrient supplementation levels and the best yield of Pleurotus ostreatus. The nutritional compositions of the yield were analysed. The highest mean yield of 24.5 g of fresh mushrooms was observed with the substrate mixture T3 (15% rice bran and 85% saw dust) and lowest yield of 8.6 g observed in the T0 (without rice bran). The effects of temperature and relative humidity on growth of oyster mushroom were evaluated. The result of this study showed that small-scale, indoor oyster mushroom production appears to be economically feasible in Nsukka.