Investigation on Effect of Different Agro-wastes on Growth and Yield of Milky Mushroom (Calocybe indica)

Abstract

Milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) is a tropical edible mushroom capable of converting agricultural residues into edible biomass. This study evaluated the suitability of different agro-waste combinations for milky mushroom production during 2025–2026 at the Department of Plant Pathology, RCSM Government College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. Eleven combinations of wheat straw, paddy straw, soybean straw, sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane trash, deseeded maize cob, groundnut shell and coconut coir pith were evaluated in a 1:1 ratio using a completely randomised design with three replications. The assessed parameters included spawn run, pinhead formation, first harvest, period between flushes, sporocarp number, pileus breadth, stipe length, successive harvest yields, total yield, biological efficiency and crude protein content. Significant differences occurred among substrate combinations. Wheat straw + paddy straw (1:1) recorded the shortest spawn run (18.33 days), earliest pinhead formation (31.67 days), earliest first harvest (40.67 days), highest sporocarp number (17.33), pileus breadth (5.69 cm), stipe length (8.16 cm), total yield (806.33 g kg⁻¹ dry substrate), biological efficiency (80.63%) and crude protein content (22.22%). Wheat straw + soybean straw (1:1) ranked second for total yield (691.34 g kg⁻¹) and biological efficiency (69.13%). Groundnut shell + sugarcane bagasse produced the lowest total yield (255.29 g kg⁻¹) and biological efficiency (25.53%). Under the study conditions, wheat straw + paddy straw was the most favourable combination evaluated for milky mushroom production.