Mechanization of Growing Media Preparation and Poly Bags Filling In Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

Abstract

Preparation of saw dust as the growing media and filling it into poly bags are the most laborious operations of mushroom cultivation in Sri Lanka. Saw dust is used as the main substrate; it should be sieved well to get fine particles and mixed properly with the other essential nutrient ingredients and water. The purpose of this research was to find an appropriate mechanical solution to prepare the saw dust based growing media and filling of growing medium into transparent poly bags for artificial cultivation of Oyster mushrooms. A power operated machine with three separate units; saw dust sieving unit, ingredient mixing unit and mixture filling unit were designed and, fabricated. An electric motor was used as the power source for all three units. The integrated filing and compaction of the mixture filling unit is the most salient feature of this machine. The performance of the machine was evaluated compared against the manual preparation by a skilled laborer using well dried mango saw dust and other recommended ingredients. Machine capacity of the sieving unit and sieving efficiency were 212 kg/hr and 84%, respectively while the corresponding figures of manual sieving were 145 kg/hr, and 76% respectively. The capacity of the mixing unit and the mixing efficiency were 323 kg/hr and 67%. In manual mixing, the corresponding values were 162 kg/hr and 70 %. The capacities of the mixture filling unit and filling efficiency were / 81 bags/hr and 83%, respectively compared to the manual filling where those corresponding values were 32 bags/hr and 72 % respectively. According to the results, this machine can effectively replace the manual sieving, mixing and filling of mushroom growing medium in oyster mushroom cultivation.