COTTON SEED HULLS

Edible mushrooms such as Pleurotus ostreatus, Enoki mushroom, and Ganoderma lucidum, are a type of health food with high protein, low fat, low calories, comprehensive nutrients, and a unique flavor. Cottonseed hulls and sawdust are currently used as cultivation materials. Artificial cultivation and production of mushrooms under natural conditions can be greatly affected by the supply of raw materials and seasonal changes, making it difficult to meet market demands. The research results show that the carbon–nitrogen ratio of pomace is suitable for the growth of mushrooms, and it shows fast mycelium growth and high mushroom production. Therefore, pomace is a good material for mushroom production. For mushroom cultivation, dried pomace powder can be up to 70% of the total materials supplemented with 2% lime, wheat bran, and sawdust. Each 100 kg cultivation material can produce 100 kg of fresh mushrooms. In Lentinula edodes production, pomace can replace the same amount of woods, leading to excellent production efficiency and economic benefits. Optimal cultivation conditions include an inoculum amount of 10–15% cultivation materials, cultivation temperature of 25–27°C, and relative air humidity of 70%. Ze Xiong et al. used citrus peel for the cultivation of P. ostreatus, showing that the mushroom growth rate in citrus peel medium is 19 days, growth speed is 0.52 cm/day, and biological efficiency is 137%