Mushroom: A crop of choice

Awareness of mushroom food value has increased and their potential as a commercial crop, grown on agricultural wastes, has been demonstrated. Mushrooms can be grown either on commercial scale using highly sophisticated equipment and mushroom houses, or as a home business using fabricated equipment, low cost materials and agricultural wastes. Mushrooms is a high value cash crop and is also a source of vitamins and minerals. It requires very little growing space and provides for economical utilization of crop residues and animal wastes. It offers opportunity for crop diversification. In nature mushrooms have not only been a source of food for men and other animals but also have played an important role in the cycling of carbon and other elements through the breakdown of lignocellulosic plant residues and animal dang which serve as the substrates for the saprophytic fungi. This book sets out the principles of mushroom production. It covers aspects of mushroom cultivation which a grower needs to know before engaging on this attractive venture.