Cultivation of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on lignocellulosic waste

The establishment of a small-scale production facility for Pleurotus ostreatus is described and environmental and yield data are presented. The average yield was c. 50% fresh weight mushroom/dry weight substrate when grown on 40% cocoa shell waste, 40% softwood sawdust, 19% oatmeal and 1% carboxymethyl cellulose. The mushroom fruited when daily temperatures ranged between 11 and 27°C.