Cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) using Sawdust supplemented with Waste Human Hair

Abstract

Abstract Waste human hair (WHH) is a part of municipal solid waste generated from salons that may lead to clogging of drainage pipes ensued with flooding. Pleurotus ostreatus (mushroom) is capable of utilizing several organic substrate types due to its enzyme secretions. This study determined the potential of WHH in cultivating edible mushrooms P. ostreatus (Oyster mushroom). WHH from males was collected from two (2) barbing salons in Benin, Edo state. Microbial analysis was based on standard methods while pulverised WHH samples (pasteurised and unpasteurised) were mixed with sawdust in varying concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20% WHH) and used in monitoring the growth of P. ostreatus for 100 days. Growth of P. ostreatus in sawdust and rice bran was used as control. The total bacterial and fungal counts obtained from WHH samples were 4.50 ± 1.00x102 cfu/g and 0.61 ± 0.05 x102 sfu/g respectively. Among identified bacteria and fungi were Bacillus sp, Citrobacter sp. Penicillium sp. and Alternaria sp. Mycelium complete run observed in the pasteurised samples gave rise to mushrooms with the exception of the 20% WHH sample. However, the control had the largest total yield (355 g) and Biological Efficiency (51%). Mycelium complete run and produced mushrooms in pasteurised samples could be attributed to lack of competing microorganisms. The yield and efficiency observed in the control could be because of established mycelium-substrate relationship spanning several generations. The potential for recycling WHH provides an avenue for the promotion of the circular economy in Nigeria.