Waste Recycling For Value-Added Edible Mushroom Production

Prof. Lalithakumarie, J. Ms Alana Hiralal and, Ms Dillon Husbands

Mushroom production is a model for entrepreneurship. Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is an edible mushroom, which can be grown successfully under tropical zones. Mushrooms cultivation could be commercialized at all levels. Substrates like, rice bran, rice straw (paddy hull), coconut fiber, saw dust and sugarcane bagasse (Guyana’s waste material) were examined for raising mushroom beds, where labour and materials can be obtained free and are inexpensive for developing family project as cottage industry in rural areas.

Pure culture of Oyster mushroom was used to raise spawn (seed material). Various agro products like wheat, sorghum and bird seeds, cut pieces of sugarcane bagasse, coconut coir fiber, cargo rice, polished rice, lentils, tamarind seeds, wheat bran, and groundnut husks were chosen to produce spawn. The rapid growth of fungus was observed in 10 days on wheat seeds followed by sorghum seeds, bird seeds, cargo and polished rice.

Twelve days old spawn material was used to inoculate the mushroombed. Approximately 1000g spawn inoculated in 4 layers per bed weighing 1-2kg of bedding material. Inoculated mushroom beds were incubated under darkness. It takes 12 to 15 days for the spawn run and when the whole bed is white, it is an indication that spawn running is over and beds are tied and hung on strings for fructifications at warm temperatures. Care was taken to make opening in the poly bag with sterile blades. Pin heads appear 10 days after incubation in coconut fiber beds followed by 20 days in rice bran, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust and 30 days in paddy straw. The pinheads took 3 days for reaching full size of oyster mushrooms. Mushroom blooms were more in rice bran bed but the development was faster in coconut fiber beds. Growth of oyster mushroom was very slow in the paddy straw bed but the mushrooms were big in size even reaching a size with 6 inches in diameter. Fully grown oyster mushrooms are whitish and have a pleasant flavor. During harvest the mushrooms are carefully removed from the bed without leaving portions of them in order to avoid contamination.

Flush of mushrooms continue for 3 days and with an interval of 7 days a second flush appears. On average 1kg of mushrooms can be obtained per bed. Mushrooms are known for its delicacy all over the world. It has nutritive and medicinal value. Mushrooms are the value added products from agro wastes. Mushroom cultivated paddy straw and other substrates can be used as organic fertilizer or could be converted as bird feed or could be used for vermiculture.

Attempts are made to introduce technical and scientific knowledge among students, farmers and society to produce high quality mushrooms, protein rich, low fat and with essential vitamins and minerals. Mushroom production offers business opportunities to those willing to commercialize as an additional enterprise for the farm or as an additional enterprise for the farm or rural community.