The influence of fungus treatment on the biochemical composition and
degradation patter of sawdust and cotton plant by-products (cotton
burns and cotton gin trash) by Pleurotus sajor caju were
evaluated. Lignin degradation increased as the incubation period
progressed while the highest loss of hemicellulose, cellulose, acid
detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre were recorded for treated
cotton plant by-product. The nutrient availability was superior in the
fungus treated cotton plant by-product substrate compared to the
treated sawdust. The process efficiency was highest for the treated
sawdust than the treated cotton plant by-product, while the loss of
organic matter was similar in the cotton plant by-product and sawdust.
Correlation between the dry matter of the treated sawdust and cotton
plant by-product gave a positive response. It is concluded that such
biodelignification and the concurrent percentages increase in nutrient
availability indicate that culturing of P. sajor caju on cotton plant
byproduct ands saw dust may in fact improve the nutritive value of such
lignocellulosic waste