EFFECT OF WATE RING INTERVALS ON THE YIELD AND YIELD CONTRIBUTING CHARACTERS OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (Pleurotus florida)

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effect of watering intervals on the yield and yield contributing characters of oyster mushroom (Pleura/lis florida) during March to June 2007 at Mushroom culture house, SAU. Water was sprayed on spawn packet at 24, 12,8 and 6 hours interval with a control (no watering). The lowest duration (8.020 days) from stimulation to harvest was recorded in watering at 6 hours interval. The highest number of fruiting body (57.54 per packet) was obtained from watering at (, hours interval. Fresh weight of fruiting body (4.53g) was also the highest under watering at (, hours interval. The lowest length (2.25 ern) and highest diameter (0.90 ern) of stalk; the highest diameter (589 ern) and thickness (0.79 ern) of pileus were obtained from watering at 8 hours interval. The highest biological yield (265.4g), economic yield (254.5g) and dry yield (25.51 g) were counted under watering at 6 hours interval. The highest biological efficiency of 91.52% was recorded in watering at 6 hours interval. A significant positive correlation among watering interval and dry yield, and watering interval and biological efficiency were observed. It was found that 62.21 % of dry yield and 63'% of biolouical efficiencv were attributed to the watering interval.,