Effect of different substrates on yield of Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida)

The present research work was carried out in the Research laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow in winter season of the year 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively to assess the effect of various substrates such as wheat straw and paddy straw in different treatments combination on yield of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida). The experiment was laid out in completely randomized block design consisted of twelve treatments combination in each replication and replicated thrice. The pooled data of two years showed that the maximum number of sporophores (97.17), number of pinheads (169.50), yield of first harvest per bed (400.33 g), yield of second harvest per bed (360.17 g) and yield of third harvest per bed (142.52 g) was reported in treatment T6 (wheat straw 80% + paddy straw 20%) while the minimum number of sporophore (85.00), number of pinhead (154.17), yield of first harvest per bed (351.98 g), yield of second harvest per bed (319.33 g) and yield of third harvest per bed (125.93 g) was reported in treatment T2 (Paddy straw 100%). Thus, the different substrates used in treatments combination showed that the combination of Wheat straw (80%) + Paddy straw (20%) is best for the mushroom cultivation under Lucknow condition in terms of yield and economic returns and by cultivating mushroom crop income of marginalized sections of society can be improved.