Assessment of agronomic crops-based residues for growth and nutritional profile of Pleurotus eryngii

Abstract

Among edible mushrooms, Pleurotus eryngii is unique due to its flavor, admirable medicinal and nutritional profiling. Pakistan is an agricultural country diverse in various crops. However, the residues of the horticultural and agronomic crops are wasted without utilization in the food chain. Hence, a study was performed to assess the performance of relatively low-cost, easily available crops residues i.e. cotton, rice, wheat, mustard and water chestnut for yield and nutrition enhancement of Pleurotus eryngii strains P9 (China) and P10 (PSU-USA). The results revealed that morphological attributes i.e. mycelium run, fruit development, yield and biological efficiency were significantly higher by using cotton waste as compared to other substrates. Regarding biochemical attributes i.e. total soluble solids (12.67 °Brix), phenolics (259.6 mg/100g), moisture (92.3%) and ascorbic acid contents (2.9 mg/100ml) were also significantly higher by using cotton waste. Whereas, acidity (0.30%), reducing sugar (7.67%), non-reducing (4.33%) and total sugars contents (12%) were found highest by using mustard straw. Nutrient analysis of substrates showed that nutrient levels were increased after harvesting of crop as compared to before harvesting levels. Overall results revealed that cotton waste and mustard straw are promising substrates for Pleurotus eryngii better growth and have potential in yield and nutrition enhancement. Moreover, P10 strain performed better as compared to P9.

Potential of coffee straw biochal as a substrate conditioner in seed lettuce and sorghum germination and vigority

“…Research has been carried out to study the use of various residues, such as biochar from plant residues, sewage sludge, cotton waste and mustard straw, materials from animal production, among others, in the composition of substrates for the production of seedlings, mainly because it represents an alternative that reduces costs and minimizes the negative environmental impacts resulting from waste disposal (Medeiros et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2017Zhang et al, , 2019Zhou et al, 2017;Ramlow et al, 2018;Freitas et al, 2023;Khatana et al, 2022).…”