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Abstract

Abstract | This study aims to find alternate sources (agro-based wastes) for mushroom cultivation due to the increasing demand and price of wheat straw. These alternate sources include sugarcane leaves, sugarcane bagasse, and spear grass. This study explored the effects of different agro-wastes on oyster mushroom growth, yield, and nutritional composition. The effects of various substrates on the oyster stalk length, cap diameter, weight, nitrogen value, protein contents, number of fruiting bodies, and primordial were analyzed. Among the different substrates, sugarcane leaves were found to be one of the best with maximum productivity. The protein contents of oysters were also comparatively higher, growing on sugarcane leaves (18.38%), followed by spear grass (17.85%) and wheat straw (control 13.83%). In comparison, the lowest crude proteins were obtained from the sugarcane bagasse (7.61%). Our results demonstrate that sugarcane leaves can be used as an alternative and cheap substrate for mushroom cultivation.