EFFECT OF LINE AND PACKET SPACING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at National Mushroom Development and Extension center at Savar, Dhaka during the period from October 2006 to January 2007 with a view to determine the influence of line to line and packet spacing on growth yield and quality of mushroom. Four levels of line spacing viz. 14, 17, 20, 25cm and six levels of packet spacing viz. 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 20 cm were taken as two factors of the experiment for the study. The line spacing showed significant influence on the mushroom growth and pileus shape and size. After that both mushroom growth and size of pileus did not show significant variation at days after opening. Number of primordia per packet was also significantly influenced by line and packet spacings. But the Number of effecting Fruiting body, Diameter of pileus, Thickness of pileus, Length of stalk, Diameter of stalk, Individual Fruiting body weight, yield per packet and per square meter yield were significantly influenced by the line and packet spacings. It was observed that wider line and packet spacings had better response on growth, and quality per packet while closer line and packet spacings showed higher yield per unit area. The interaction effect of line and packet spacing had significant influence on yield and yield parameters. The highest (11.7 kg or 11770 g) yield per unit area (sq.m) was recorded from the combination of 14cm line and lOcm packet spacing which also did not perform the highest benefit cost ratio. The highest (2.98) benefit cost ratio was found from spacing 20cmx 1 lcm. While the lowest (l.91) BCR was obtained from the spacing of 25cmx20cm spacing. Considering the yield of mushroom per square meter, cost of production, benefit cost ratio and net retum,the20cmx 11 cmspacin appeared to be recommendable for the cultivation ofOyester mushroom in Bangladesh.