This research was aimed at evaluating the effect of mixing substrates on the growth and yield of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). Seven substrates, namely, Trt1 (cotton waste), Trt2 (wheat straw), Trt3 (crushed baobab fruit shells, 100%), Trt4 (cotton husk + wheat straw + crushed baobab fruit shells, 1 : 1 : 1), Trt5 (baobab fruit shells + cotton husks, 1 : 1), Trt6 (baobab fruit shells + wheat straw, 1 : 1), and Trt7 (cotton waste + wheat straw, 1 : 1) were used. Each treatment was replicated 5 times and laid out in a CRD. The duration of developmental stages, yield, and biological efficiency was recorded. Cotton waste demonstrated a significantly ( p < 0.05 ) higher mycelial colonization rate taking an average of 18.20 days to complete full spawn run, 23.20 days from spawning to pinhead formation, 2.80 days for pins to mature, and an average of 26.00 days to first harvest. There was a significant ( p < 0.05 ) difference in the total number of pins with cotton waste being the highest with an average of 29.80 pins, although it was not significantly different from Trt4. The highest (5.40 cm) stipe girth was recorded from Trt4 while the highest (5.22 cm) cap diameter was recorded in Trt1. There was a significant ( p < 0.05 ) difference in yield and biological efficiency. Trt1 had the highest (1.292 kg) average yield; however, it was not significantly ( p > 0.05 ) different from that of Trt4 (1.289 kg). From the research, it was observed that mixing substrate can help to increase yield and, as a result, a higher benefit-cost ratio. Therefore, further studies should be done to evaluate the effects of mixing other substrates besides the ones used in this current research.

This study evaluates the importance of wild edible mushrooms as food in three villages of the Binga, Zimbabwe. A purposive sampling method was employed to select three villages from two (Local Government Area) wards, 25 households per each village randomly selected from the total household list provided by the district administration department, with a total of 75 households. An open ended, structured semi structured interview guide was used to provide a preliminary list of wild edible mushrooms in the area and the identification methods used, using seven households from the three villages. Structured, semi-structured and guided forest walks with some of the informants and forest picking observation was carried out with local guide assistants who have the skills of local (Tonga) language and Shona language. An econometric model was used to identify the factors influencing wild edible mushroom consumption in the study area. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. Results from purposive sampling showed that seven ethnospecies of wild edible mushrooms were listed (in Tonga and scientific names in parenthesis: Bakapyapya (Cantharellus spp), Bakayanda (Amanita loosii (zambiana)), Bwabbaya (Termitomyces spp), Indyuu (Termitomyces titanicus), Madongila (Amanita spp), Mbuse (Termitomyces clypeatus), Nowa (Lactarius kabansus) and Indyuu, Madongila, Nowa) and of these three were noted as extinct species (Indyuu, Madongila, Nowa). About 43% of the participants consumed wild edible mushrooms once every day, 19% twice every day and 14% every second day during the rainy season, underpinning the potential importance of wild edible mushrooms for food security. Around 52% of the participants collected wild edible mushrooms once every day, 28.6% of the every second day while around 16% collected once a week, during the rainy season. Ethnobotanical knowledge of wild edible mushrooms was mainly passed orally from elderly to young people (72.9% of the participants), while 15.7% passed by mothers to their children and 11% learned from female elders to young women and girls. Identification techniques such as texture feeling, colour underneath and on top, breaking and observing milk like liquid oozing out and points of collection were used. Women (21.4%), women accompanied by girl child (24.3%) are especially involved in wild edible mushrooms collection, while a minority 1.4% men, women accompanied by boy child (7.1%) did the collection. The mean monthly income per household is US$108.57, largest in Simandala and lowest in Dumbwe. The average age of the participants is 45.37 years. Of the 70 participants, 61.4 were female and 38.6 were male. Average consumption of wild edible mushrooms per meal per household is 1.436kg. About 95.7% of the participant served wild edible mushrooms as main relish, accompanying the staple. The mostly consumed were Indyuu (Zhouchuru) and Bakayanda (Nhedzi), consumed by 100% of the participants. Linear regression showed that the coefficients were positive and not significant at p<0.05 level, only significant on household size.