by Rowell C. Dikitanan, SEARCA-RDD
10-July-2008 SEARCA RDD News Release
Instead of throwing sawdust, why not grow mushroom on it?
Indonesia’s researcher, Mr. Hendaru Djumantoro found that growing mushroom on sawdust is a promising enterprise. The said study was conducted with the members of KSM Tani Mekar (a community organization) with the aim of developing alternative means of earning from timber wastes by developing them as growth media for oyster mushroom. This activity also partly solves the waste problem derived from timber industries in Indonesia.
Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sp.) is a relatively easy-to-grow mushroom prized for its edibility. It is a natural source of statin drugs. Studies have shown that they typically contain 0.4% to 2.7% statins on a dry weight basis (Z. Naturforsch Study). A number of studies on lab animals have shown that adding Pleurotus to the diet can reduce cholesterol under some conditions.
Indonesia is one of the main suppliers of tropical timber in the world. Timber industries produce large number of timber wastes, which are usually dumped into the river or burned directly that lead to environmental contamination.
The research of Mr. Hendaru Djumantoro was funded through SEARCA’s Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT) grant in 2006-2007. It was conducted at Karyasari Village, Bogor, Indonesia where timber waste was excessively abandoned.
The study showed that mushrooms grew well on 100kg of sawdust mixed with 15 kg of bran, and 10 kg of corn.
_________
Related Links:
About the Seed Fund for Research and Training
About oyster mushrooms
