Amending traditional substrate rice straw with agroforestry tree foliage increases production cycle and nutritional value of pleurotus floridanus
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AJOL
Abstract
The recent heightened attention on mushrooms has not considered shortening the production time
and increasing nutritional value using substrates from agroforestry trees in addition to traditionally
used agro-industrial residues. This study therefore, examined harvesting time, protein and essential
minerals of Pleurotus floridanus grown on rice straw amended with Gliricidia sepium foliage in
Morogoro, Tanzania. Mushrooms were cultivated in 30 x 40 cm 4 kg dry weight polythene bags in
randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment. Results showed that the addition of 5%
G. sepium into rice straw reduced total time between spawning and first harvest of P. floridanus.
Gliricidia sepium increased significantly (P < 0.05) protein contents of the mushrooms by up to
40%. The addition of 5–10% G. sepium into rice straw increased significantly (P < 0.05)
manganese, copper and zinc in the mushrooms. The decrease in production time and high increase
in protein and mineral contents indicate that agroforestry trees have the potential to increase
production cycles and nutritional value of P. floridanus. Therefore, use of foliage from
agroforestry trees in combination with traditional substrates for mushroom production could help
fight malnutrition, improve food security and enhance income.
Description
Tanzania Journal of Science 47(2): 485-494, 2021
Keywords
Food security, Gliricidia sepium, Income, Mushrooms, Smallholder farmers