Cultivation of Pleurotus spp. on various agro-residues

Three species of Pleurotus, P. sajor-caju, P. platypus and P. citrinopileatus, were cultivated on various agro-residues such as paddy straw, maize stover, sugarcane bagasse, coir pith and a mixture of these wastes. Primordium initiation was observed on 22nd–27th day after spawning. Maximum yield was obtained in P. sajor-caju cultivated on paddy straw. P. platypus yielded its maximum on coir pith and P. citrinopileatus on sugarcane bagasse. The biological efficiency, nutrient composition, energy value and energy recovery of the fruit bodies obtained on these substrates were reported.