Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
Gopinath V, MK Biswas, Elangovan M and Nisha Thakur

Abstract:
A study was conducted to determine the impact of different spawn substrates and nutritional supplements on yield and biological efficiency of Paddy straw mushroom. Among the various spawn substrates viz., Wheat grain, Jowar grain, maize grain, rice grain and paddy straw respectively tried on paddy straw substrate, the yield (505.3 g/bed) and increase of biological efficiency (15.9%) was highest when Jowar grain was used as spawn substrate, followed by spawn produced from wheat grain, maize grain and rice grain and paddy straw, respectively. Average number of sporophores (28.25/bed) and total bed yield (2021.5 g) was achieved with Jowar grain spawn. Lesser yields and biological efficiency were recorded with paddy straw spawn substrate. Considering grain cost and performance shown by different spawn substrates Jowar grain was found suitable for cultivation. In the event of nutritional supplementation, yield and biological efficiency of paddy straw mushroom were found to be increased further by incorporation of nutritional supplements to the substrates. Supplementation of nutrients to the substrates has an effect on total spawn run period and average weight of sporophores. Paddy straw supplemented with Gram dhal flour produced high yield (612.6 g/bed) and increase of biological efficiency (17.67%) followed by supplementation of Rice flour, water hyacinth, Oil cake and Urea. Gram dhal flour 2% supplemented beds yielded 28.38% more than control. These studies will aid mushroom cultivators in determining suitable spawn substrate and nutritional supplement.