Effect of Milky Mushroom (Calocybe indica) in Different Agricultural Residues with Different Casing Materials

Present study entitled was carried out in field irrigation lab, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Aditya Engineering College, Surampalem. In the present experiment locally available agricultural substrate paddy straw, sugarcane bagasse and cocopeat were tested with black soil and farm yard manner as casing materials. For parameters such as days required for spawn run, pinhead formation, harvest days, total yield and biological efficiency were determined. Significant results were obtained for all the experimental parameters and also for the stem length and cap diameter. Best substrate found was the paddy straw in the recent experiment with days required for spawn run (14 days), pin head formation (11.2 days), days for first harvest(50 days), stem length (8.07 cm), capdiameter (8.67 cm), first harvest (489.45 gm), second harvest (453.68 gm), total yield (925.24 gm), biological efficiency (94.31%). The next best in the order was coco peat followed by sugarcane bagasse. Hence this study confirms the suitability of paddy straw for cultivation to mushroom growers and farmyard manure with 15 cm casing thickness as substrate for its cultivation for achieving higher yield. The benefit cost ratio was estimated as 1.57.