Seeds and agro-industrial wastes as a medium for growing oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) in the nursery

This research aimed to identify the best substitute materials for oyster nursery medium and analyze the mycelial growth of mushrooms. The materials used for the major medium were seeds while the starter medium were agro-industrial wastes. The experiment consisted of two factors. The first factor was corn seeds (major medium, kapok seeds and Leucaena seeds. The second factor was agro-industrial wastes which consisted of three kinds viz. bran (major medium), soybean seed coat and tofu wastes. The results showed that both seeds that agro-industrial wastes were potential medium and can be used for growing oyster mushrooms. These responses were because seeds contain fiber and lignin and agro-industrial wastes contain essential nutrients required for the growth of the oyster mushrooms. Corn seeds were more effective in supporting the growth mushrooms when mixed with any of the three agro-industrial wastes. On the other hand, kapok seeds were better than Leucaena seeds because it contains more fiber and carbohydrates. It also contains high nutritional value of about 32.7% protein and 16.7% fiber. For the industrial wastes, barn contains 10% carbohydrate, 7.5% protein, 2.25% fat and up to 7.5% variety of minerals (Nursiam 2012). Tofu waste contains enough protein to stimulate early mycelial growth. It contains about 414 kcal energy, 26.6 g protein, 41.3 g carbohydrates, 18.3 g fat, 19 mg Calcium (Ca), 29 mg Phosphorus (P) and 4 mg Iron (Fe). The medium made from kapok seeds and bran (T3L1) and kapok seeds and tofu wastes (T3L2) were able to support the mycelial growth with a speed of 0.39 cm/d and 0.36 cm/d, respectively. An increase in the weight of mycelium by 1.56 g/d and 1.93 g/d was observed in T3L1 and T3L2, respectively. Corn seeds can be substituted to Leucaena and kapok seeds growing medium for oyster mushrooms whereas bran can be substituted to tofu waste and soybean seed coat.