Viability of Cassava peels spawn production and mushroom cultivation
Abstract This work was carried out to ascertain the viability of spawn produced on cassava peels and used for spawning cassava peels and sawdust substrates and compare the yield with mushroom fruits from the conventional Sorghum bicolor known to be the best material for spawn production. Three different species of mushroom cultures were inoculated on cassava peels, two Pleurotus pulmonarius strains (FIIRO and Thailand) and Lentinus squarroslus. The study of mycelia colonization rate study was done in triplicate. L. squarroslus completed colonization within 18days of inoculation in test tube with a growth mean value of 11.16cm, the two strains of P. pulmonarius (FIIRO and Thailand) completed colonization in 21 days with FIIRO strain having growth mean value of 11.46cm and Thailand strain 11.20cm. Cassava peels spawn production was done in two ways, singly and supplemented with rice bran, yield from different species of mushroom (L. squarroslus and P. pulmonarius (FIIRO Strain) cultivated with cassava peels spawn in the study were compared with sorghum grains spawn. Different weight of 100, 200, 300g were used for cultivation, sorghum grains spawn produced the highest yield (202.13g) from the two species used followed by cassava peels supplemented with rice bran (179.86g) and single cassava peels spawn (124.13g). L. squarroslus did not fruit on cassava peels even with the sorghum grains spawn. The differences from the yield of the three spawn was negligible as the differences was not noticeable (cassava peels 124.133±5.21a, supplemented cassava peels spawn 179.867±0.64a, and sorghum grains spawn 202.133±8.86a). This result verified the use of cassava peels in the production of viable mushroom spawn.
Cassava peel utilization among rural households of south-west Nigeria
Cassava peel utilization among both men and women in rural households of south-west Nigeria is assessed using a multistage sampling techniques method to collect primary data from 300 households. Descriptive statistics results show that most of the volumes of cassava peel generated at household level are used by women mostly as livestock feeds (65 per cent), fuel for cooking (60 per cent), and means of payment for labour (45 per cent). Few men (<50 per cent) utilized cassava peel. Small proportions 29 per cent of cassava peel are processed, stored, used, and sold. Most 71 per cent of the peel generated is discarded on dump sites to be incinerated. Limited technological options for utilization of peel, lack of value addition opportunities, inadequate processing equipment for peel, and inability to add value to peel were identified as major constraints of cassava peel utilization. Chi-square results show positive and significant relationships (P < 0.05) between options available for cassava peel utilization ...
A New Look at Cultivated Mushrooms
Because mushrooms have a high protein content, mushroom cultivation has the potential to increase protein for human consumption in developing countries. Attempts are being made to fruit mushrooms in culture other than the widely available Agaricus and Letinus. Mushrooms can grow on substrates primarily of agricultural and industrial wastes, require little land, and the used compost improves agricultural soil. (Accepted for publication 28 November 1983)