Raymond, Prosper; Mshandete, Anthony M.; Kivaisi, Amelia K.
Description:
Solid sisal waste fractions which included composted sisal boles and sisal leaves
decortication residues supplemented with cow dung manure at various rates used singly
and/or in combination as substrates were investigated for cultivation of oyster mushroom
(Pleurotus HK-37). The effect of the test sisal waste substrates and cow dung manure of
various supplementation rates were evaluated by mushroom yield, biological efficiency and
mushroom size. Pinheads occurred in all substrates within 3 to 5 weeks of transfer of bags to
the cropping room. The overall best results of mushroom production were obtained in a
substrate combination of 50 % sisal leaves + 50 % sisal boles (based on 450 g wet weight
substrate) supplemented by 30 % cow dung manure with the mushroom yield of 184.64 g
fresh mushrooms/kg moist substrate weight and percentage biological efficiency (B.E) of
about 63 %. Mushroom size of 6.10 was obtained in sisal boles substrate supplemented by
20 % cow dung manure. Least yield of 26.73 g fresh mushrooms/kg moist substrate weight
and lowest B.E of 8.95 % were obtained from non-supplemented substrate of sisal leaves
alone. The study concluded that, supplementation using cow dung manure may play an
important role on increasing the yield and productivity of Pleurotus HK-37 on solid sisal
waste fractions under the conditions investigated.