Abstract:
Makandura White (MK-White; Calocybe
sp.) is a newly introduced edible mushroom
variety. Cultivation of MK-White requires a
specific agronomic practice called ‘casing’.
Currently, the only casing material used in
Sri Lanka is composed of termite clay soil,
sand and dry cattle manure in 3:1:1
proportion. Due to limited availability of
termite clay soil, the present study was
undertaken to find out an alternative casing
mixture which can be developed using
readily available local material. Six different
casing mixtures were used against a control
without a casing (Control 1). Casing
mixtures of termite clay soil: sand: dry cattle
manure (3:1:1; Control 2), half burnt paddy
husk: dry cattle manure (2:1) and dry cattle
manure: sand: loamy soil (1:1:1) took less
number of days (4.1 days) to appear
mycelium on casing. Pin head formation was
fastest in the casing mixture of half burnt
paddy husk: dry cattle manure (2:1; 32.3
days) and in the mixture containing dry
cattle manure: sand: loamy soil (1:1:1; 36.6
days). Highest yield per bag within 21 days of
pin head formation was obtained from the
casing mixtures of termite clay soil: sand:
dry cattle manure (3:1:1; 84.63 g) and half
burnt paddy husk: dry cattle manure (2:1;
82.05 g). The casing mixture of half burnt
paddy husk: dry cattle manure (2:1)
provided the required physico-chemical
conditions to grow MK-White mushroom.
Therefore, termite clay soil, sand and dry
cattle manure mixture can be replaced with
the readily available half burnt paddy husk,
dry cattle manure (2:1) mixture for MK White mushroom cultivation.
