Effect of different agricultural substrate on yield performance of Macrocybe giganta mushroom

Abstract

Eight different agricultural substrates (Arecanut leaves and sheath, Coconut leaves, Soybean straw, Sugarcane trash, Sugarcane bagasse, Banana pseudo-stem, Paddy straw, and Wheat straw) were evaluated for their effects on Yield performance of Macrocybe gigantea with cocopeat and soil (80:20) as casing material during 2024. Average number of fruit bodies per bed ranged from 20.56 to 47.61. Banana pseudo stem yielded maximum (47.61) and minimum in arecanut leaves and sheath (20.56). Average fruit body weight (g) ranged from 11.86 to 30.08 g per fruit. Coconut leaves yielded maximum of 30.08 g average fruit body weight and minimum of 11.86 g on banana pseudo stem. Wheat straw and paddy straw gave maximum yield (782.85 and 752.64 g/kg dry substrate, respectively) and high biological efficiency of 78.29% and 75.26% respectively. Whereas arecanut leaves and sheath gave minimum yield and biological efficiency (512.63 g and 51.25%, respectively). Thus, Wheat straw and Paddy straw were found to be the most efficient substrates, while Arecanut leaves and sheath were least efficient. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing substrate selection for sustainable and efficient cultivation of Macrocybe gigantea.