Performance of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on Cotton Waste Amended with Maize and Banana Leaves

Waqas Ahmad, Javaid Iqbal, Muhammad salim, Iftikhar Ahmad, Muhammad Aqeel Sarwar, Muhammad Asif Shehzad and Muhammad Awais Rafiq

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and performance of oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on the different substrates. The substrates used in the study were T₁ (100% C.W), T₂ (50% C.W + 50% Banana leaves), T₃ (75% C.W + 25% Banana leaves), T₄ (50% C.W + 50% Maize leaves) and T₅ (75% C.W + 25% Maize leaves). The numbers of days to complete the mycelium growth and days to reach harvesting stage were decreased in treatments T₁ and T₅ when compared to others treatments followed by T₂. The numbers of matured mushrooms were greater in T₁, T₂ and T₅. Total yield was significantly higher in T₁ (125 g), T₂ (121 g) and T₅ (119.8 g) respectively. The maximum dry weight was produced by T₁ (27.2 g) and T₂ (25.0 g) respectively over others treatments. The nitrogen contents after harvesting of mushrooms were also affected. These results investigated that 100% cotton waste and 50% cotton waste + 50% Banana leaves are suitable for the cultivation of mushrooms as compared to other growing media.