Influence of ammonium nitrate and organic supplements on the yield of Pleurotus sajor caju (Fr.) sing

Summary

• 1. The effects of supplementing the straw substrate of Pleurotus sajor caju with ammonium nitrate, alfalfa or soya bean meal on the decomposition speed of the substrate, the yield of fruiting bodies and their nitrogen content were measured.

• 2. Addition of ammonium nitrate increased the decomposition of organic matter in the substrate except at the two highest NH₄NO₃ concentrations. The yieled of fruiting bodies was reduced only at the highest NH₄NO₃ concentration. The yield of fruiting bodies and their nitrogen content increased more with addition of alfalfa and soya bean meal than with ammonium nitrate supplementation.

• 3. The lowest yield (3.50%) was obtained using wheat straw substrate and the highest (11.89%) after supplementation with 40% of alfalfa. The lowest nitrogen content in fruiting bodies was also found using wheat straw substrate not supplemented (4.10% nitrogen), and the highest after supplementation with 30% of soya bean meal (8.90%).

• 4. The yield coefficient (Yield of fruiting bodies/% Loss of organic matter) was higher in supplemented substrates (maximum 0.25) than in the unsupplemented control (wheat straw, 0.11).