Study of Oyster Mushroom cultivation (Pleurotus flabellatus & Pleurotus sajor-caju) on different substrates and economics

Pleurotus flabellatus and Pleurotus sajor-caju were cultivated on different plant substrates as the former species fruits well at 18–28°C and the later species at 10–20°C. Plant wastes or substrate viz. Paddy straw, Wheat straw, Barley straw, Sugarcane trash, Gram kernel and Lentil kernel were tried as alternative substrates for the cultivation of Pleurotus flabellatus, and Pleurotus sajor-caju. Biological efficiency (BE) obtained from each substrate was more than 90%. The highest yield of P. flabellatus (1120g/1000 g dry substrate, BE 112%) and highest yield of P. sajorcaju (1320g/1000g dry substrate, BE 132%). was obtained from paddy straw substrate. Wheat straw, Barely straw, Sugarcne bagasses, Gram kernel and Lentil kernel proved to be good substrate for mushroom cultivation. Economic profitability analysis showed that Pleurotus mushroom cultivation was income-generation entrepreneurship that farmers and unemployed youth can easily adopt. A profit of 156.1 to 264.1% was recorded when 80% of the experimented yield was taken into account. A profit of more than 100% achieved even from the pessimistic yield (60% of the experimental yield).