THE MICROBIAL CONVERSION OF DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES AND ITS BIOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY

A number of agricultural residues such as Saccharum munja Roxb. (Sarka nda), Oryza sativa L. (Paddy straw, as the control), Vinna unguiculata (L.) Walp (Cowpeas), Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench (Lady's finge r), Zea mays L. (Maize) and Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. (Guar) were used for the cultivation of Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer. Th e biological efficiency of the fruit bodies of Pleurotus sajor-caju fr om the above mentioned substrates were found to be 13.47, 11.20, 8.37, 8.31, 6.87, and 6.08 percent, respectively. S. munja and paddy straw were found to be the best substrates for the growth of P. sajor-caju f ollowed by Z. mays, V. unguiculata, A. esculentum, and C. tetragonolob a.