Assessing the Impact of Casing Material Thickness on Yield and Biological Efficiency of Milky Mushroom (Calocybe indica P&C)
Marimuthu Elangovan
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110 012, India and Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal- 721 236, India.
Vaithiyalingam Gopinath
Dr.Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Bihar- 848 125, India.
Ganesan Rathinakumar
Sethubaskara Agriculture College and Research Foundation, Tamil Nadu- 630 311, India.
Madhaiyan Sakthivel
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand- 263 145, India.
Mohan Kumar Biswas *
Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal- 721 236, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Calocybe indica, known as the milky mushroom, has significant potential for agricultural expansion and economic development, particularly in West Bengal, India. This study investigates the impact of different casing material thicknesses (0.5”, 0.75”, 1.0”, and 1.5”) on the yield and biological efficiency of C. indica. Using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), the effects on primordia initiation, sporophore maturation, yield, and biological efficiency were assessed. Results indicated that a casing thickness of 1.0” was optimal, leading to the quickest primordia initiation (10.4 days) and sporophore maturation (9 days), and yielding the highest total yield (717.5 g) and biological efficiency (71.75%). In contrast, thinner and thicker casings resulted in lower yields and efficiencies. The findings suggest that a 1.0” casing thickness significantly enhances C. indica cultivation, providing practical recommendations for commercial mushroom farming. This optimization can support the development of milky mushroom farming in West Bengal, offering new opportunities for local farmers and contributing to regional agricultural diversification and economic growth.
Keywords: Calocybe indica, casing thickness, yield, biological efficiency, commercial cultivation