Utilization of seafood processing wastes for cultivation of the edible mushroom Pleurotus flabellatus

Abstract

A study was conducted to examine the utilization of seafood processing wastes for artificial cultivation of edible mushroom Pleurotus flabellatus in laboratory condition. Utilizing bioconversion technology such as the slow release of nutrients for agricultural based activities like producing mushroom will profitably reduce seafood waste and also enhancing environmental quality. The selected agro-industrial wastes such as coir pith, woodchips and sugarcane bagasse were mixed with cooked fish waste (CFW) in the ratio of 1:1 (500 g : 500 g). The substrates which were not mixed with CFW were treated as control. All the above materials were allowed to decompose partially for about 15 days. The partially composted materials were placed in heat resistant transparent sterilized polyethylene bags. Each sterile bag was then aseptically inoculated with P. flabellatus. The bags were then incubated under ambient temperature and controlled humidity. The maximum biological yield per bed was obtained with sugarcane bagasse control bed 58.05±0.88 g/bed. The lowest yield was observed in the substrate woodchips: CFW (1:1) 24.43±0.30 g / bed. Based on the mass obtained for P. flabellatus, the best substrates were in the ordered of woodchips>coir pith>sugarcane. This could be used to cultivate an edible mushroom while at the same time promoting environmental sustainability and increase soil fertility.