Assessment of Spent Coffee Grounds Combined With Agricultural Wastes for Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Pulmonarius) Cultivation

Abstract

Background and Objective: Agriculture in Pakistan faces challenges in waste management and food security, with rapid urbanization increasing the need for sustainable innovations. Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius) cultivation offers a viable solution by converting agricultural wastes into protein-rich food. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG) combined with wheat straw, cotton waste and pomegranate peels as substrates for oyster mushroom cultivation.

Materials and Method: Five treatments were evaluated in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications and five treatments: T1 (50% wheat straw + 50% cotton waste), T2 (50% pomegranate peels + 50% SCG), T3 (50% wheat straw +50% pomegranate peels), T4 (50% pomegranate peels +50% cotton waste) and T5 (100% cotton waste). The substrates were soaked, supplemented with gypsum and urea, sterilized and inoculated with 5% spawn. Data were collected on mycelial colonization, pinhead formation, fruiting body maturation, yield and Biological Efficiency (BE).

Results: Among all treatments, T2 exhibited the best performance with the fastest 100% mycelial growth (20.3 days), earliest pinhead formation (2 days), quickest maturation (3 days), highest yield (260 g/bag) and maximum biological efficiency (52%). Conversely, T5 showed the poorest results across all parameters. ANOVA analysis indicated significant differences among treatments (p<0.0001).

Conclusion: The combination of spent coffee grounds and pomegranate peels demonstrated superior efficiency in oyster mushroom cultivation. This synergy highlights the potential for recycling agricultural and food waste into valuable protein sources, contributing to sustainable waste management and economic viability in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.