Comparison of low cost substrates and Spawn levels for Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivation in Afghanistan

There is a significant interest in cultivation of oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus ) as nutritious food, with the rise in its consumption. Thus, there is a need to compare different low-cost available substrates for its productivity in Afghanistan. In the present study, two substrates wheat straw and tree leaves along with their combination (1:1) as a single substrate were tested based on 10, 20 and 30 grams of spawn (wheat seeds mycelium growth). And the growth rate of fruiting bodies (fresh weight) were used for statistical analysis. When the wheat straw with 30 gr of wheat seeds spawn was used, resulted the highest yield (348 gr/Kg substrate). While the growth of the mushroom showed better result (273 gr/Kg substrate) on mixed substrates with 30 gr of spawn as compared with the third substrates in which consist of tree leaves + 30 gr of wheat seeds growth spawn (111gr/Kg substrate) indicating the lowest yield for P. ostreatus . This study, concluded that the wheat straw substrate had affected significantly positive on fresh weight, and its yield was higher when maximum dose of spawn applied. For the best of our knowledge this is the first study evaluated local substrates for cultivation of the mushroom in Afghanistan.