Enhancing Yield and Biological Efficiency of Volvariella volvaceae through Non-Conventional Cultivation Methods

A study was conducted to determine the impact of Different Non- Conventional methods of Cultivation on yield and biological efficiency of Volvariella volvaceae. Among the different methods viz., bed method, partial compost method (3 days), partial compost method (6 days), partial compost method (9 days), intact straw + partial compost, Chopped paddy straw in polythene bags, Rolled paddy straw in polythene bag were experimented on yield and biological efficiency. However, the bed method of cultivation proved its well suitability among all the methods tested and gave highest yield and biological efficiency (1920 g and 15.0%) followed by partial compost method (3 days), single layer of straw + partial compost, partial compost (6 days) which exhibited (1025 g and 10.25%), (840 g and 8.40%) and (720 g and 7.20%) respectively. Maximum average weight of sporophore (24.6 g) was observed from bed method of cultivation which was significantly superior amongst all the methods evaluated followed by partial compost (3 days), single layer of straw + partial compost, partial compost (9 days) at 18.30 g, 16.15g and 15.5 g respectively. Smaller sizes of sporophores were noticed on partial compost (6 days) at average weight of 15 g. Average weight of sporophores noticed in chopped paddy straw and rolled paddy in polythene bag method were 12.2 g and 10 g respectively. Considering the major drawback of Volvariella that it has very low biological efficiency, bag method of cultivation was aimed to increase the biological efficiency of paddy straw mushroom.