Towards practical application of fungal-treated lignocellulosic biomass as ruminant feed

Summary

My PhD research focused on using fungi to improve the nutritional value of agricultural leftovers like wheat straw, making them suitable as animal feed. I studied how specific fungi, such as Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Lentinula edodes, break down hard-to-digest parts of plant material. I explored the best combinations of fungi and plant materials, tested ways to store and reuse fungal-treated straw, and examined how conditions like moisture and pH affect fungal growth. This work shows that low-quality plant waste can be turned into better feed for ruminants, offering a sustainable solution to reduce waste and support agriculture in regions with limited resources.