St.

Paul University Dumaguete

Comparative Study of Cogon grass and Conventional

Substrate on the Growth and Yield of Oyster White Mushroom

Members:

Jed Marielle Delos Reyes

Prileen Bandoquilo

Andrelene Truzan

Mary Dawn Banquerigo

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

Introduction

The Philippines, like many other Southeast Asian nations, is primarily an agricultural

country. Like other Asians, the Filipinos really like to eat mushrooms. During the mushroom

season, i.e. from August to September, mushrooms harvested from the natural habitat are sold

along the roadside. There are no less than 26 distinct species of edible mushrooms known to

Filipino mushroom hunters.

However, mushroom production in the Philippines is declining due to inadequate supply

of planting materials and lack of expertise (Corales, Dimaano, Suba & Rivera, 2014; Quimio,

1990). One of the agricultural wastes that is used as “conventional substrate” for mushroom

production is rice straw (Quimio, 2004). According to the Bayawan City Agriculture Office

(2018), only 0.02% of the total agricultural land area is certified as organic rice growers, which

means most of the rice farmers here in our locality uses pesticides and these harmful substances

could damage our health if the rice straws are used as substrates for mushroom production. This

motivated the researcher to look for alternative substrate that will substitute the conventional

method of mushroom cultivation.

Mushrooms are high in protein, potassium, amino acids and vitamins B, C, D and E.

(Helen, et al., 2009). "A variety of pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumour, antioxidant,

antiviral, hypocholesterolemia and hypoglycemic effects, have been observed in vitro and in vivo

studies with mushrooms and isolated bioactive constituents" (Cheung, 2010).

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) is an edible mushroom with a cap that resembles an

oyster shell. Deemed as vegetable, it is now recognized that mushrooms currently rank above all

vegetables and legumes (except soybean) in protein levels and have high rates of  vitamin b and

c , minerals and low fat content. According to Rizki and Tamai (2010), cogon grass and palm oil

trunks are decent substrates for increasing mushroom weight and biological efficiency. Then the

researcher hypothesized that Cogon (Imperata cylindrica) is a good alternative for producing

white mushroom oysters

The goal of this research is to promote the technology of oyster white mushroom

cultivation using agricultural waste, to find an alternative that is more organic and thus to

identify the feasibility of growing mushrooms in the study area in order to improve the

livelihood of the local community. Presently, agricultural and industrial waste are being disposed

or discarded incorrectly, which could contribute to our environmental concerns, and the use of

these agricultural waste as substrate for mushroom is one of the ways which might fix this

problem.

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

Review of Related Literature

Since 1995, the mushroom industry in the Philippines has deteriorated, with the lowest

production volume being 355 metric tons (MT) in 2009. Most of the mushrooms eaten were

imported from different countries of South East Asia, such as China, Taiwan, Thailand,

Malaysia, Korea and Japan. Growing mushrooms in the Philippines is economically feasible due

to its relatively low costs, availability of cheap agricultural waste substrates and high demand,

which would be lucrative for mushroom growers (Chang et al., 2014).

A study using thatch grass, wood chips and wheat as a substrate was performed by

Masevhe, Soundy and Taylor (2016) and the findings showed that thatch grass could be an

alternative for wheat. Another study conducted by Caral, Manasa, Vinaym, Vinothkumar and

Babu (2013) utilized straw and sawdust on two different types of sterilization (Chemical and

Physical Sterilization) and revealed that straw is more effective than sawdust in sterilization and

yield.

A study by Adebayo, Omolara and Toyin (2009) conducted a comparative study about

the use of cotton waste and cassava peel, and the study indicated that cotton waste is a better

alternative to cassava peel in the production of mushrooms. Comparing three substrates: coconut

leaves, banana leaves and cogon grass, and the findings showed that there was no substantial

difference between the set-ups in their growth parameters, because all three can be used as an

alternative organic ingredient in the growth of oyster white mushrooms (Wagas, 2017).

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

The current study used Cogon (Imperata cylindrica) grass as an organic substrate

compared to the traditional rice straw substrates in terms of mycelium growth (cm), length of

mushroom stipe (cm), mushroom stipe diameter (cm), cap diameter (cm) and post-harvest yield.

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

Conceptual Framework

We will use 100 replicates in each set-up for a total of 200 experimental units on the

impact of cultivating mushrooms using cogon grass and rice straw with molasses, limestone and

sawdust. The development of mycelium in height will be evaluated twice a week in all set-ups.

This research consists of two set-ups with one hundred replicates in each set-up, with a total of

two hundred experimental units. DEPENDENT VARIABLES

Growth of mycelium in each

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES bag (cm)

Cogon (Imperata cylindrica) Grass Length of mushroom stipe

(Set-up A) (cm)

Ricestraw with molasses, limestone Mushroom stipe diameter (cm)

and saw dust Cap diameter (cm)

(Set-up B) Mushroom yield (grams)

Figure 1. Relationship between independent and dependent variables

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

Research Instrument

The team is planning to use a sterilizing technology to sterilize the mushroom bags and a ruler to

measure the growth of mycelium and oyster white mushrooms.

Research Environment

The field study will be carried out in a private-owned farm with the permission of the owner, and

endangered or protected species will not be included in any way. The collection of cogon grass

and rice straw with molasses, limestone and saw dust including the cutting bagging, sterilization

and the planting of the mother spawn will be conducted at JoelTess Organic Farm, an accredited

organic farm in Bayawan City under the supervision of an organic practitioner Mr. Jotham

Tanasan.

Research Respondents

Wa ko kabalo kinsa ug unsa kadghanon

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

Research Procedure

A. Flow Chart of the Procedure of the Study

Preparing and Collecting of Materials and Substrates

Mixing of Substrate

Bagging of the substrates

Sterilizing of the bags

Placing of Mother Spawn and Placing of the Fruiting bags in the Mushroom House

Collecting of Data

SET-UP A SET-UP B

Cogon (Imperata cylindrica) grass Rice straw with molasses, limestone and

saw dust (Conventional)

Gathering of Data

Growth of Length of Mushroom Cap Diameter Mushroom Yield

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

Definition of Terms

Oyster Mushroom - the common name for the species Pleurotus ostreatus, are one of the most

common types of cultivated mushrooms in the world. 

Pharmacological - relating to the branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and

modes of action of drugs.

Antioxidant - a substance that inhibits oxidation, especially one used to counteract the

deterioration of stored food products.

Antiviral - chiefly of a drug or treatment effective against viruses.

Hypocholesterolemia - an excess of cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Hypoglycemic - blood sugar (glucose) level is lower than normal. 

Substrate - the substance on which an enzyme acts.

Mycelium - is the vegetative part of a fungus or fungus-like bacterial colony, consisting of a

mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. 

Sterilization - process that removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life and other biological

agents.

Replicate – process of reproducing and exact copy.

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 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Basic Education Department – SHS
Senior High School
S.Y. 2020-2021

Appendices

wa ko kabalo ani kay wa may questionnaire pa na nahimo and idk if muhimo so

walay interview guide then wa sd permission letter pa nga nagama.

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