Determining of usability of garlic waste in Pleurotus eryngii cultivation and physical-chemical properties of garlic based substrates at different stages of production

The objective of this study was to determine the usability of garlic waste, generated in a large amount after garlic processing, as substrate in Pleurotus eryngii cultivation. In this study, P. eryngii 3065 strain was used and substrates prepared with the mixture of poplar sawdust (PS) and garlic waste (GW) at different ratios (95% PS + 5% GW, 90% PS + 10% GW, 85% PS + 15% GW, 80% PS + 20% GW and 75% PS + 25% GW) were compared with the 100%PS (control) substrate. The effects of those substrates on yield, biological efficiency (BE) and quality of mushroom were investigated. However, pH, moisture content, ash, organic matter, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), C:N ratios, lignin and mineral nutrient contents of PS and GW materials and substrates prepared by those materials were determined in the samples taken after sterilization and in the spent mushroom substrate after harvest. In the study, the highest yield, BE and production rate were obtained from 75% PS + 25% GW substrate (314.60 g bag^‑1, 84.94 and 0.74%), this was followed by 80% PS + 20% GW substrate (251.20 g bag^‑1, 84.78 and 0.71%) which was not statistically different with 75% PS + 25% GW. The results revealed that garlic waste could be used in P. eryngii cultivation.