Author: Dibyarupa Pal, Sujan Maity & Sudipto Sarkar
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03050024
Abstract: India being agrarian based economy has huge turnover of agricultural waste which needs suitable management system for their dispersal. These are ligno-cellulosic wastes which are burnt openly creating threat for environment and human health. Mushroom production utilizing the agro-waste as substrates offers a ‘golden opportunity’ to turn waste into wealth with minimum investment. Mushroom harbours both nutritional and medicinal properties beneficial for humans with diabetes and provides essential amino acids to eradicate malnutrition. Indian climatic conditions prefer cultivation of different edible mushroomsthroughout the year.In return the economy of the rural people is uplifted and food security is also ensured. Post-harvest gives us spentmushroom substrate which can be re-utilized in agriculture as compost, as livestock feed or generation of unconventional fuel. Valorisation of mushroom products is achieved by fortifying different food items with mushroom powder and used as nutraceuticals also. In this study Volvariellasp. and Pleurotussp., was grown utilizing ligno-cellulosic substrates like paddy straw, areca palm leaves,sugarcane bagasseand saw dust.To determine feasibility of such substrates different parameters like mushroom yield, cap diameterand stipe length was observed. Though paddy straw was the preferred substrate for both mushroom species butareca palm leaves and sugarcane bagasse also showed huge potential. Further investigationsare needed for efficient utilization of these unconventional substratesby certain pre-treatment procedures.This study aims to find cheap, alternative eco-friendly ligno-cellulosic substrates which farmers can access easily for cultivating mushroom.
Keywords: mushroom, lignocellulosic waste, Volvariellasp.,Pleurotussp., substrates
Page No: 219-227