EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE WEIGHT ON OYSTER MUSHROOM GROWTH AND YIELD IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Oyster mushrooms are nutrient-rich foods, sources of bioactive compounds for pharmaceuticals, and eco-friendly waste recycling and bioremediation agents. Sawdust and other wood wastes serve as well-established substrates for mushroom cultivation, offering sustainable use of agro-industrial byproducts. However, information on how substrate weight influences mushroom yield and productivity is limited. This study investigated the effect of substrate weight on the growth and yield of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) under humid tropical conditions in southern Nigeria. Four sawdust substrate weights (500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 g) were evaluated in a completely randomized design within a mushroom house at Akwa Ibom State University. The parameters assessed included fruit body length, stipe girth, pileus diameter, number of fruit bodies, and total yield across successive harvests. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, with significant means separated by least significant difference at 5%. The results are presented in line graphs, while the mushroom yield. presented in a bar chart.The results revealed that larger sawdust substrate weights significantly enhanced mushroom yield, with 2000 g producing the highest yield (1164.83 g), followed by 1500g (1082.58 g), while 500 g produced the lowest yield (714.14 g). Morphological traits such as fruit body height and stipe girth showed no significant differences across treatments, whereas substrate quantity positively influenced pileus diameter. The study findings demonstrate that substrate weight is a critical determinant of oyster mushroom cultivation productivity. Beyond yield optimization, the study underscores mushroom farming sustainability through agro-waste utilization, contributing to food security, waste management, and environmental conservation