A detailed guide to black termite mushroom cultivation techniques, all the key growing points explained at once

Black termite mushroom generally refers to the black-skinned termite mushroom with a black outer skin, a fungus traditionally used in China for both food and medicinal value. Below is an introduction to its cultivation techniques.

Cultivation techniques for black termite mushroom

1. Site

Choose a good site, facing south with its back to the north, and build a solar greenhouse equipped indoors with watering and misting systems, lighting, ultraviolet disinfection lamps, ventilation fans and other equipment. The black-skinned termite mushroom is a medium-to-high temperature edible fungus, suitable for making cultivation bags in autumn and for cultivation and fruiting in spring and summer.

2. Ingredients and inoculation

100 kg cottonseed hulls, 100 kg corncobs, 50 kg wheat bran, 2 kg compound fertilizer, 3 kg lime powder, 2 kg gypsum powder, 2 kg light calcium, 1 kg Yifuyuan mushroom ecological treasure bacterial liquid. Broadleaf sawdust and straw-type materials can also be used, preferably sourced locally. Pile and soak the corncobs with the compound fertilizer and lime powder for 3 days beforehand so they fully absorb water; pre-wet the cottonseed hulls 1 day in advance; after the corncobs have finished soaking and are confirmed to have absorbed water thoroughly, mix all the raw and auxiliary materials in the formula together evenly, adjust the pH to 6-7.5 and the moisture content to below 63%, then bag them; depending on conditions or design, the bags can be inoculated using sterilized material or fermented material; once a material bag is inoculated and becomes a spawn bag, it should be moved into the spawn-running stage.

3. Spawn running

Treat the spawn-running shed about 3 days in advance and disinfect it; after the spawn bags are moved in, regulate the shed temperature to below 25°C and the humidity to below 70% for spawn running, keep light blocked and maintain a small amount of ventilation. During spawn running, spray fungicide and insecticide once every 3-7 days depending on the temperature, to prevent pests and diseases.

4. Management

After the black termite mushroom forms primordia, keep the temperature in the mushroom shed above 20°C, the humidity above 80%, the light above 500 lux and the ventilation unobstructed. In just a few days the fruiting bodies will grow large, so harvest before they are eight-tenths mature.

In the process of growing black termite mushroom, controlling temperature and humidity is very important, so growers must pay close attention. In addition, after harvesting, the termite mushroom beds should promptly have debris removed and hollows filled in.