Utilization of Paper-Cone Water Cups as an Alternative Lignocellulose Waste Substrate in Pleurotus ostreatus Production

Abstract

This study examined the utilization of paper-cone water cups as an alternative substrate for oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) production. The research was conducted by using bioconversion technology and a profitable method for converting lignocellulosic residue from municipal solid waste into protein-rich biomass, thereby reducing waste paper and enhancing environmental quality. The most suitable substrate for mycelial growth was waste paper from paper-cone water cups (WPC) combined with rubber wood sawdust (RWS) at a 75%:25% dry basis ratio. The substrate mixture was adjusted to a moisture content of 70 %, and the C/N ratio was fixed at 20:1 by the addition of urea and supplementation with 8 % rice bran. Spawn running used 10 % seed inoculum. The mushrooms were cultivated on 500 g of substrate in polyvinyl chloride boxes (405 cm3) and incubated at 25 °C in the dark with the relative humidity maintained at 70 - 80 %. The fastest spawn running (mycelia development) occurred at 5th days, with pin head formation at 9th days and fruiting body formation at 12th days.The highest yield recorded was 26.59g/100g.Under these conditions, the potential lignocellulosic waste conversion (biological efficiency) was recorded as 88.64 %, and the protein content of P. ostreatus was 35.75 % after 12 days of cultivation.