The Effect of Different Substrates Found in Zimbabwe on the Growth and Yield of Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus Ostreatus

The research was carried out to investigate the effect of different substrates on growth and yield P. ostreatus. Locally available agricultural wastes such as saw dust (S1), cotton waste (S2), wheat straw (S3) corncob (S4) were tested for parameters days required spawn run, primordial formation, harvest days, total biological efficiency. Biological Efficiency (BE) calculated ratio fresh fruiting body weight (g) per dry (g), expressed a percentage. Before used in this study they subjected nutritional (C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg Zn) analysis. highest 1275.45 g obtained lowest 1058.7 waste. carbon nitrogen (C/N) found (53:0.1) least C/N (39:1). There 19 run 24 Stem width (2.6 cm) cap diameter (9.7 greatest low with stem (2.3 (7.4 cm). Substrates higher had favoured mycelium lower favored growth. In it yet but its measurements very high. no significant difference at p≤0.05 between corn cob terms their significantly high (44:1) (49:1) respectively. results signifies that apart from soya beans maize stalk which widely by farmers choice, dust, waste, good alternatives ostreatus mushrooms. Saw best quality mushrooms big stipes diameter. These locally Zimbabwe recommended use small scale sustainable production oyster produced yields cost.