Study of inter-cultivating paddy straw mushroom in maize cropping system

Abstract

The field trial was taken up in the Eastern Block of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore from February 2003 to February 2004 to study the effect of inter-cultivating paddy straw mushroom under irrigated dry land condition. Field experiments were laid out in sandy clay loam soil, in a split plot design and replicated four times. One kg of paddy straw was weighed and made into bundles of 60 cm length. The bundles were soaked for 24 hours and the water was drained out. Five bundles were placed in the interspace in 56 days old maize crop, perpendicular to the water flowing direction. Placing in this manner facilitated easy movement of water during irrigation. Horse gram powder @ 20 g per layer was sprinkled over the bundles and paddy straw mushroom spawn was applied. This formed the first layer. Like this a second layer was formed in crisscross way. Similarly, two more layers were formed and the last layer was made for covering. Totally 5 layers with 20 bundles weighing 20 kg (dry weight basis) formed one bed. Each bed required 250 g of spawn and 80 g of horse gram powder. Every-day water was sprinkled @ 3 liters per day/bed upto 6 days. Within 3 days, mycelial growth was seen and on 8^th day after bed formation pin heads of mushroom appeared. From 10^th day onwards mushrooms were harvested and the yield was recorded. On an average the yield per bed was 1003 g with a bio efficiency of 5.01 per cent. Mushroom was sold at a rate of Rs 50/kg. On a hectare basis the net income out of this special cropping system works out to Rs.10, 140 from mushroom alone.