THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTING SUBSTRATES WITH NITROGEN SOURCES ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF PLEUROTUS PULMONARIUS
Abstract
Pleurotus pulmonarius is a widely cultivated oyster mushroom valued for its nutritional composition and therapeutic potential, including its proteins, dietary fiber, essential minerals, and bioactive antioxidant compounds. Hence, this study examined the influence of nitrogen-enriched substrates on the growth and yield of Pleurotus pulmonarius.
The experiment was conducted in the Department of Biological Sciences, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, using sawdust and rice husk sourced from Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta, respectively, while spawns were obtained from the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi. Prepared substrates were inoculated, and mycelial development was monitored weekly.
Results showed clear variations among treatments. For fresh weight, T9 (150g of Ricehusk + 50g of Sawdust), T7 (150g of Sawdust + 50g of Ricehusk + 10g of Bloodmeal), and T5 (150g of Sawdust + 50g of Ricehusk + 10g of Fishmeal) were the top performers. In stalk length, T14 (200g of Ricehusk) and T5 (150g of Sawdust + 50g of Ricehusk + 10g of Fishmeal) ranked highest, while T5 also produced the largest cap diameter. Mycelial colonization followed a different pattern, with T13 (200g of Sawdust), T5, and T1 (100g of Sawdust + 100g of Ricehusk + 10g of Fishmeal) showing the fastest spread. These patterns indicate that rapid colonization does not necessarily correspond to superior yield.
Overall, nitrogen supplementation improved growth and productivity. Substrates enriched with organic nitrogen sources supported earlier pinhead formation and higher yields than the control. Hence, nitrogen supplements should be added moderately to maintain a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen (C: N) ratio. Therefore, moderate organic nitrogen supplementation is recommended.
KEYWORDS: Pleurotus pulmonarius, nitrogen, fishmeal, agricultural waste.
Word count: 257
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.