The influence of substrate on mushroom productivity

Abstract

Utilization of different agricultural waste for production of different species of mushroom could be more economically and ecologically practical to meet the nutritional and health  needs of ever increasing world population. Mushrooms are grown on a great variety of substrates and the  choice of substrate depends on availability and cost.  This is on the background that momentous variation on  biological efficiency, mushroom nutritive content and  yield on different substrate weight have been reported worldwide. This discussion attempt to explore the influence of  substrate on mushroom  productivity parameters. The use of additives to imrove biological efficiency is   highlighted as means of  increasing mushroom production. The influence of substrate type and weight have been  assessed on  mushroom yield to ascertain the exact weight for optimal weight of  production. In certain cases mushroom yield have increased with  increased  in substrate type and  weight. Different biological efficiency have been associated with different substrates supplemented with different additives resulting into specific  nutritional composition of the product. It is reasonably to suggest that in order to be able to adequately address  issues related to mushroom productivity,  there is need for  thorough assessment of  the effects of different substrates on mushroom yields. Thus, interventions that seek to improve mushroom production need to consider the trade-offs inherent in  availability and suitability of substrates in mushroom cultivation.