Impact of Various Agro-Waste Substrates on the Growth, Yield, Chemical Composition, and Nutritional Profile of Oyster Mushrooms, Pleurotus spp. (Agaricomycetes)

This study investigates the impact of various agro-waste substrates on the cultivation dynamics, yield, and nutritional composition of three Pleurotus species: P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatus and P. djamor. Results revealed significant differences in spawn run duration, fruiting initiation, and overall cropping period across substrates. Wheat straw facilitated the fastest mycelial colonization (15 d for P. sajor-caju), while black gram straw resulted in the highest yield and biological efficiency (99.83% for P. ostreatus). Soybean and rice straws emerged as superior substrates for fruit body production and nutritional quality, with P. djamor cultivated on rice straw exhibiting the highest carbohydrate content (56.21%). Protein content peaked at 27.62% in P. sajor-caju grown on black gram straw, while fat and crude fiber content varied across substrates. Mustard straw demonstrated the lowest efficiency in all parameters, indicating its limited suitability for oyster mushroom cultivation. The findings emphasize the crucial role of substrate selection in optimizing growth performance, yield, and nutritional composition, offering valuable insights for sustainable mushroom farming.