Lawn clippings for cultivation of oyster mushroom

• Published in: International journal of vegetable science Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 98 - 103
• Main Authors: Olfati, J.A, Peyvast, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 19.05.2008
• Subjects: cellulose; crop yield; fruiting bodies; growing media; lawn clippings; lignin; mushroom growing; mushrooms; nutritive value; phenology; Pleurotus ostreatus; Pleurotus sajor-caju; protein content; rice straw; sedge; yard wastes
• ISSN: 1931-5260; 1931-5279
• DOI: 10.1080/19315260801934159

Oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus var. sajor caju (Fr.) Singer, can be cultivated on a wide variety of substrates containing lignin and cellulose. Oyster mushroom cultivation can play an important role in managing organic waste. Oyster mushroom was grown on five substrates: sedge (Carex remota L.), lawn clippings (mix of Bermuda grass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], ryegrass [Lolium persicum L.], meadow grass [Poa sinaica L.], and fescue [Festuca drymeia L.]), rice (Oryza sativa L. var. Alikazemi) straw, rice straw + sedge, (1:1 wet wt/wet wt), and rice straw + lawn clippings (1:1 wet wt/wet wt). Lawn clippings alone and rice straw + lawn clippings were best for fruit body production of P. ostreatus. Time to fruiting for P. ostreatus was also shorter on lawn clippings. The problem of low yield in the second flush appeared to be overcome by incorporating lawn clippings into the substrate. Protein content of the fruit bodies obtained from sedge and sedge + rice straw were higher than those from other substrates. Lawn clippings, used as a substrate, appear to be suitable for oyster mushroom production. Additional work is needed to determine whether changing the volume of components of the lawn clippings will affect the suitability of the substrate.