Abstract:
The substrate released after mushroom crop harvest, better known as 'post mushroom substrate '(PMs) has shown
multifaceted utility in integrated farming which includes recycling for the cultivation of subsequent crops. There are
ample research findings to prove the high nutritional status of well decomposed PMS and its suitability as organic
manure for most agricultural food crops. Based on these evidence, the present study was aimed to investigate the
potential applicability of PMs as a cheap substitute for high valued nitrogen source frequently used in Oyster
mushroom (Genus: Pleurotus) cultivation. Basal growth substrate for Pleurotus consisted of 100% sawdust (SD),
w/w alone and in two separate combinations with PMS@25% and 50%w/w. These three substrates were further
enriched with total prescribed dosage of legume powder and rest of the amendments while half rate of the
recommended legume powder was also added separately with other amendments to the substrate consisted of 2 5%
and 50% PMS. The experiment was laid in Complete Randomized Design having 5 treatments and 15 replicates and
was repeated two times. Spawn run rate, mushroom yield, and biological efficiency corresponding to each treatment
were recorded. The highest values (P>0.05) pertaining to spawn run rate, mean mushroom yield and the biological
efficiency were recorded from two growth mixtures comprising 50%PMS+50%SD irrespective of the inclusion of the
N enrichment as prescribed or half recommendation. Nevertheless no significant difference was observed (P>0.05)
between these two treatments suggesting the suitability of PMS as a cheap nitrogen source to substitute high valued
legume powder used in mushroom substrate preparation
