Growth of Volvariella volvacea in an uncontrolled environment using water hyacinth and traditional rice straw as bedding materials

This study aimed to determine the growth performance of straw mushroom(Volvariella volvacea) using water hyacinth and the traditional rice straw as bedding materials.Specifically, the study aimed to determine the growth of the straw mushroom in terms of the following : number of days from button stage to biological maturity ; number of mushrooms harvested, length of mushroom stalk; diameter of mushroom cap; and weight of mushrooms harvested. It also tried to determine the yield in terms of the Return of Investment.Statistical tools used were frequency count to described the number of days from spawning to appearance of pinheads, number of days from pinhead to button stage, number of days from button stage to biological maturity, number of mushrooms harvested; the mean to described the growth performance of the straw mushroom in terms of the length of mushroom talk, diameter of mushroom cap, weight of mushrooms harvested and the t-test to determine if there was a significant difference on the growth performance of the straw mushroom using the two types of bedding materials. No significant difference occurred on the number of days from spawning to appearance of pinheads. As to the number of days from pinhead to button stage, t-test result showed a significant difference between the two bedding materials used.As to the number of days from button stage to biological maturity results showed a significant difference between the two treatments. As to the number of mushrooms harvested, t-test showed a highly significant difference between the two treatments. On the weight of the mushrooms harvested, no significant difference occurred between the two treatments. And finally, there was a significant difference on the cost and return analysis from the use of the two bedding materials. Water hyacinth used as a bedding material in the culture of Volvariella volvacea has a great influence on the growth of the mushroom in terms of the number of days from pinhead to button stage, on the number of days from button stage to biological maturity, and on the number of mushrooms harvested. There is a high Return of Investment (ROI) in using water hyacinth as a bedding material in the culture of Volvariella volvacea. The water hyacinth is highly recommended as a bedding material in the culture of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea. Further study on mushroom culture should be conducted during the dry season, particularly during summer.