Mixture of Corn Husk Fiber, Sawdust and Rice Bran as Alternative Substrate for Growing Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is a saprotrophic fungus growing from woods that breaks down cellulose. The researchers found a new way of growing mushrooms through the substrate with corn husk fiber. This fiber is one of the major agro-waste products which contains nutrients that could support the growth of oyster mushroom. Instead of being discarded, this fiber could be used innovatively as an oyster mushroom'ssubstratum.

METHODS

In doing the experiment, corn husks were finely shredded and mixed with saw dust and rice bran. The mixture was composted and inoculated to stimulate the growth of mycelium. The mycelium were introduced to the substrates and were placed in an enclosed area for incubation to be readied for fruiting process and gathering of data.

RESULTS

Mushroom yields obtained from treatments were different with each other. The highest amount collected was 60g of oyster mushrooms which was found from set-up with 100g of rice bran, 175g of sawdust and 525g of corn husk fiber. Using One-Way ANOVA, deviation method of partitioning the sources of variation was used. The computed F-value was 2.36. This computed value was compared with the Tabular F-value. The decision criterion was that, if the computed F-value was greater than the Tabular F-value, then there were at least two treatment yields that were significantly different from each other. In this particular case, however, the Tabular value was smaller.

DISCUSSIONS

The results showed that the mixture of corn husk fiber, saw dust and rice bran can be an alternative substrate for growing oyster mushroom for it was found out that substrates with corn husk and substrate with only saw dust produced equal quantities and qualities of oyster mushrooms.