Characterizing the Growth Kinetics of Oyster Mushroom Through Substrate Supplementation and Environmental Control

Background: Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are valued for their nutritional, economic, and ecological benefits. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of carbon and nitrogen supplementation on oyster mushroom growth using wheat straw as the base substrate. Methodology: Four treatments were compared: (1) wheat straw alone (control), (2) wheat straw + molasses, (3) wheat straw + sugar solution, and (4) wheat straw exposed to sunlight without daily watering. Both molasses and sugar supplementation accelerated mycelial growth (15 vs. 18 days), pinhead formation (18–19 vs. 22–23 days), and fruiting body maturation (21–22 vs. 25–26 days) compared to the control. Result: Sunlight-exposed substrates exhibited delayed and smaller flushes. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis of dried mushrooms confirmed the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, amine, and polysaccharide functional groups. Optimizing substrate supplementation can enhance the productivity and profitability of oyster mushroom farming, particularly for small-scale or resource-limited growers. Conclusion: Future work should explore additional nutrient additives, environmental variables, and the mushrooms’ bioactive compounds to further improve cultivation efficiency and nutritional value.