Chemical Composition of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Pulmonarius) Cultivated on Different Agricultural Waste

Abstract

The chemical composition of Pleurotus pulmonarius mushroom cultivated on different agricultural waste materials was evaluated. The mushroom was cultivated on sawdust, corncobs, cassava peel and sugarcane bagasse and the samples were denoted with SDM, CCM, CPM and SBM, respectively. The different substrates influenced the chemical composition of the cultivated mushrooms. The highest protein and fat content were recorded in sample CCM and CPM at 35.69% and 3.44% respectively. Sample SBM had the highest crude fibre and carbohydrate content of 13.87% and 41.67%, respectively. The highest ash content was recorded in sample CCM (12.02%). The result for the mineral composition of the samples showed that potassium and selenium contents had no significant difference (p>0.05) among all samples except for samples SDM and CCM. Copper and magnesium contents showed significant difference (p<0.05) in sample SBM. Similarly, iron and calcium contents differed significantly (p<0.05) across all the samples. The sodium content significantly differed (p<0.05) in sample CPM. Samples SDM and CPM differed significantly (p<0.05) from samples CCM and SBM in phosphorus. Samples SDM and CCM significantly differed (p<0.05) from samples CPM and SPM in Zinc. The cultivation of edible mushrooms on cheap and readily available agricultural waste materials will not only reduce problems of agro-waste disposal but could also help produce nutritious and safe mushrooms thereby reducing the overgrowing problem of protein-energy malnutrition in developing countries.