The physical characteristics and yield of grey oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor-caju) cultivated on sawdust and sago hampas as substrate

In Malaysia, sawdust is widely used as a substrate for the cultivation of grey oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju). Due to the scarcity and increasing cost of sawdust, this research investigated the feasibility of employing sago hampas as an alternative substrate for the cultivation of P. sajor-caju. In Sarawak, sago hampas were discarded into the river together with wastewater or incinerated, causing water and air pollution. In this study, P. sajor-caju was grown in five different formulations which are 100% sawdust (100SD) as control, 100% sago hampas (100SH), 75% sawdust + 25% sago hampas (75SD:25SH), 50% sawdust + 50% sago hampas (50SD:50SH), and 25% sawdust + 75% sago hampas (25SD:75SH). The substrate was mixed with rice bran and calcium carbonate at a dry matter basis in the ratio of 100:10:1. For the biological efficiency, 50SD:50SH recorded the highest yield (115.07%) compared to singular substrate 100SD (19.52%) and 100SH (37.04%). The higher lignin content and moisture-holding capacity in 100SD might not give better physical characteristics of P. sajor-caju. At the end of the study, supplementation sawdust with sago hampas especially formulation 50SD:50SH is recommended as the best formulation to reduce sawdust and utilise sago hampas as an alternative substrate for P. sajor-caju.