CULTIVATION OF THE MUSHROOM “Ganoderma lucidum” ON AGRO-INDUSTRIAL WASTES AND IMPACT OF BIOCHAR APPLICATION ON GREENHOUSE GASES EMISSION

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted in three phases, the first was in vitro using race tubes to assess the effects of different agro-wastes [broad bean stalks (BBS), cotton stalks (CS), maize stalks (MS), rice straw (RS), sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and wheat straw (WS)], supplements [wheat bran (WB) and corn gluten (CG)] and biochar incorporation at different levels on growth criteria of Ganoderma lucidum and the greenhouse gases emissions (GHGs). The selected agro-wastes were prepared either alone or in combinations with fixed levels of supplements, CaCO3 and biochar for developing suitable formula for G. lucidum cultivation. Different types of spawns, sorghum and agro-wastes based spawns, were prepared. In the second phase, a comparative study was conducted using elephant grass (EG) formula versus selected agro-wastes formulae, different biochar levels and spawn types in mushroom house, a proximate analysis of mature fruiting bodies were also carried out. A greenhouse experiment, in the third phase, was executed to assess the effect of Ganoderma post mushroom substrate (GPMS) on the growth performance of cowpea infested with Rotylenchulus reniformis.