EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES ON GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF OYSTER (Pleurotes Oestratus) MUSHROOM AT GOKULESHWOR, BAITADI

To determine the growth and yield of oyster mushroom, types of substrates is of crucial importance. Five different types of substrates namely rice straw, wheat straw, banana leaves, rice straw and wheat straw (1:1) and Banana leaves and rice straw (1:1) were used for evaluating the yield and related attributes of Pleurotus ostreatus. Standard cultivation practice was followed with steam sterilization and spawned substrate packed in a plastic bag. The data of two flushes were recorded. The parameters observed were days to primordial formation, yield of each harvest and length of longest stipe (Cm). Our results reveal that wheat straw was the quickest to full spawn run (23.25 days) followed by rice straw (24.25 days) and rice straw mixed with wheat straw (24.75 days) and the slowest in banana leaves (50.75 days). However, the duration from full mycelial run to primordia formation was quickest in rice straw and slowest in the mixture of rice straw and banana leaves. From the yield perspective, rice straw (1.5 kg) excelled followed by the mixture of rice straw and wheat straw (1.34 kg) and lowest in banana leaves (0.5kg). The longest stipe was observed on rice straw (17.9 cm) and mixture of rice straw and banana leaves (17.9 cm) with the least on banana leaves (12.32 cm). Results revealed that there was significant reduction of yield and stipe length from first to second harvest. The average duration to complete one cycle in rice straw was 32 days, wheat straw 31.5 days, rice and wheat mixture 33.5 days, banana leaves 54.75 days and the mixture of rice straw and banana leaves with 46 days. From over all results, rice straw was found to be the most suitable substrate for oyster mushroom under Gokuleshwor condition. If other substrates are to be used, they should be mixed with rice straw.