Waste Re-Cycling using Edible Mushroom Cultivation

Waste re-cycling through edible mushroom cultivation was investigated. Edible mushroom species used in this study include Pleurotus tuber-regium, Pleurotus osteratus var florida and Volvariella volvacea, while the agricultural wastes include corn cob, corn husk and poultry waste (used as an additive).Two kilogrammes of each waste/substrate was mixed with different concentrations of poultry waste, 0%, 1.5%, 2.5%, 3.5% and 2% Lime (CaCO3), composted, bagged and pasteurized before being seeded with spawns of Pleurotus tuber-regium, Pleurotus osteratus var florida grown on guinea corn and Volvariella volvacea spawn grown on cotton waste respectively. They were incubated in high-density polypropylene bags and grown at room temperatures (27 - 30°c) in a specially constructed growth chamber. The mean mushroom weight in the range (16 – 118.9) grams and the bioconversion efficiency in the range (0.09 – 0.67%) obtained from the three mushroom species are statistically different at (P=0.05). There was no statistical difference at (P=0.05) in the following parameters: Mean number of mushroom (1.4 – 18.7), the biological efficiency in the range (0.8 – 5.60%) and also the dry matter loss in the range (50 – 247.6%). The highest mushroom quality (very big) (5.0%of MNM) was obtained from P. tuber-regium on corn cob. P.tuber-regium, P osteratus var florida, V.volvacea have shown outstanding prospects in recycling huge agricultural wastes; such as corn cob, corn husk, and poultry waste in an environmental friendly manner.