Mushroom Cultivation Using Agricultural Wastes

Mushrooms are protein-rich, highly nutritive, popular food around the world. The cultivation of mushrooms has been in practice for decades. Studies have been conducted to utilize the agricultural waste, and agro-forest remains as the substrate for mushroom production. Agri wastes such as wheat straw, paddy straw, bran, coffee grounds, banana leaves, sawdust, etc., are highly used, and the availability of such substrates is not common among the cultivating areas. Besides the development of new protocols and the invention of a perfect combination of the substrate and supplements is an ongoing interest in the mushroom production industry. In Karnataka, agricultural remains such as areca husk, sugar cane bagasse, paddy straw, and maize stem are available to use for mushroom cultivation. Also, agro-forest residues like Cassia tora are a substantial material to turn waste into the substrate. This chapter is an approach towards such substrate utilization to improve the economy of the farmer community and a promotion towards sustainable mushroom production. 

Keywords: Agricultural waste, Areca husk, Forest residues, Spawn, Substrate.