Effect of different bedding materials on relative yield of oyster mushroom in the successive flushes

Abstract

Pleurotus ostreatus was successfully grown under local conditions utilizing chopped wheat straw, cotton waste, maize cobs or rice straw as bedding material. Wheat straw and cotton waste gave the highest yields with the shortest incubation period, fruiting bodies appearing after 15-18 days compared with 4-5 weeks on the other substrates. A typical flushing pattern was observed in each substrate. The first flush gave the highest yield in all treatments, and there was a progressive decrease in the yield of successive flushes.