Comparative study of <i>Macrocybe gigantea </i>(Massee) Pegler & Lodge cultivation in two different seasons of Jammu region, India

Mushrooms are large fungi characterized by their visible basidiocarps. Macrocybe gigantea, commonly known as “Boro dhoodh chattu” for its odour of dehydrated milk. It is a tropical species capable of growing on diverse untreated plant wastes, making it a highly economical crop. However, a very few research has been conducted on its cultivation and nutritional value. In view of the favourable environmental conditions and the availability of agricultural waste in Jammu division, cultivation of Macrocybe gigantea was undertaken. Studies on the cultivation of M. gigantea were conducted from 2019 to 2021. Experiments growing this fungus were carried out in summer (April-June) and monsoon (July-September) using two different agrowastes (wheat and paddy straw) and testing the impacts of farmyard manure, vermicompost and a mixture of the two as casing material. It was observed that the July to September cropping period demonstrated superior performance, yielded maximum output and biological efficiency. Notably, the cropping cycle was shorter during July to September than that recorded during April to June. These findings imply that specific environmental conditions during July to September are conducive to achieving maximum yield of M. gigantea.