EVALUATION OF SUBSTRATES FORMULATION ON GANODERMA SPECIES CULTIVATION

ABSTRACT Traditional cultivation practices for Ganoderma lucidum often involve high costs and suboptimal substrates that lack the balanced nutrients required for efficient growth. This research investigates the effects of various substrate formulations on the growth and yield of Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinal mushroom valued for its therapeutic properties. To address these challenges, this research evaluated alternative substrates, including combinations of sawdust, sugarcane bagasse, rice bran, Sorghum bicolor, and palm kernel bunch (PKB), with the goal of identifying cost-effective, nutrient-rich formulations to enhance Ganodermalucidum. Cultivation conditions were maintained at a temperature range of 24°C–29°C, with moisture control strategies implemented to optimize yield across multiple flushes. Results indicated that the substrate formulation of 75% sawdust, 10% sugarcane bagasse, 10% rice bran, and 5% Sorghum bicolor achieved the highest biological yield and fastest growth rate and the lowest biological yield was gotten from the substrate formulation of 48%Palmkernel brunch, 45%Sugarcane bagasse, 5%molasses. Notably, the second flush recorded the peak yield, suggesting that reduced watering frequency after the first flush prevents substrate compaction and improves nutrient cycling. This research demonstrates that the substrate formulation of 75% sawdust, 10% sugarcane bagasse, 10% rice bran, and 5% Sorghum bicolor improves the efficiency of mycelial growth and fruit body production, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional substrates. Mushroom cultivators are encouraged to adopt this formulation to optimize yield and reduce production costs in Ganodermalucidumcultivation.