LAUSR

Biological treatment of agrowaste products using white-rot fungi can enhance their physicochemical and nutritional values for further use as animal feed. In this study, sweet orange and ripe plantain peels were biotreated during their use as substrates to grow three mushroom species (Lentinus squarrosulus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, and P. ostreatus), with the aim to reuse these wastes for animal feed. The effects of mushroom biotreatment on these wastes were analyzed at 0, 30, and 60 days of incubation with respect to physical and chemical properties of the substrates. Results from the mineral composition revealed the presence of appreciable quantities of sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, potassium, and iron for both peels after treatment with all of the mushrooms. The amino acid content of orange peels treated with L. squarrosulus and P. pulmonarius increased after treatment compared with the control and plantain peel. The carbohydrate level in both wastes also increased after treatment with L. squarrosulus, P. pulmonarius, and P. ostreatus, respectively, while the moisture and ash contents of treated wastes decreased as the incubation periods progressed. However, there was no significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in the protein, fiber, and fat content of the control compared to those of treated wastes. This study affirms that biotreatment of these agrowaste products using the selected mushrooms can enhanced their value for further use.