Evaluation of Different Substrate Combinations for Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Production in Bauchi State

Mushroom cultivation represents a promising diversification strategy for smallholder farmers in North East Nigeria, offering nutritional and income generation benefits with minimal land requirements. Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) is particularly suited to tropical conditions and can be produced on a wide range of lignocellulosic substrates that are abundantly available in Bauchi State. This study evaluates the performance of oyster mushroom on five substrate combinations: sawdust alone, sawdust and rice bran (4:1), cotton seed hulls alone, sorghum straw alone, and a mixture of sawdust, sorghum straw, and wheat bran (2:2:1). The experiment was carried out in a controlled mushroom cultivation unit under a completely randomized design with four replications. Parameters measured include mycelial growth rate, days to pin formation, biological efficiency, and total fresh yield per kg of substrate. Results indicate that the sawdust, sorghum straw, and wheat bran mixture produced the highest biological efficiency (98.6%) and total fresh weight, significantly outperforming single-substrate treatments. The study recommends this substrate combination for mushroom production in Bauchi State, highlighting the potential for using locally abundant agricultural wastes to enhance food and income security in the North East. Keywords: oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, substrate, biological efficiency, Bauchi State