Growing Oyster Mushrooms on Corncobs: Try This New Formula

Formula one: corncobs 100 kg, wheat bran 10-15 kg, urea 0.3-0.5 kg, monopotassium phosphate 0.1 kg, quicklime 3-5 kg, carbendazim 0.1%.||Formula two: corncobs 85%, wheat bran 10%, urea 0.4%, superphosphate 1%, lime 4%, carbendazim 0.1%.

Method for growing oyster mushrooms on corncobs:

1. Selecting the material

The corncobs must be thoroughly dry, yellow-white in color, fresh and free of mold or spoilage. They can be ground with an ordinary feed grinder or a sawdust slicer-grinder. The screen holes of the grinder need to be enlarged with a 2 cm diameter drill bit; after grinding, the corncobs are best in particles the size of broad beans or soybeans.

For the spawn, choose according to the cultivation season (cold-loving species are cultivated in late autumn and early winter; moderate-temperature species are cultivated in early autumn, late winter and early spring.

2. Bagging and inoculation

First take out the spawn, put it in a clean container, and break it into pieces the size of jujubes. For spawn running, use 50-55 cm × 25 cm polyethylene tube material, prick three rows of micropores with a needle, first close one end, put in the spawn, and tie it tightly with string. Then load one layer of spawn and one layer of material; a total of three layers of material and four layers of spawn. After filling, tie the bag mouth tightly. Depending on the temperature, stack the bags for spawn running, or pile them in a well shape. The spawn dosage is generally 10-15%. During spawn running, the temperature is 20-25°C, and must not exceed 35°C at the highest; the relative air humidity is 50-65%; the light should be rather dim. During spawn running, pay attention to turning the bags and strengthening ventilation management. After about 15-20 days, the mycelium will have grown throughout the bag and enter fruiting management.

3. Fruiting management

After about one week, coral-like mushroom buds appear on the bags, and at this point the bags can be opened for fruiting management. The timing of opening the bags must be well controlled: too early and the material surface dries easily, causing the buds to die; too late and the quality of the mushrooms is affected. After opening the bags, increase the light. Also strengthen ventilation and air exchange, and be careful not to spray water onto the mushroom bodies. After about 5-7 days, the first flush of mushrooms can be picked for market.

Growing oyster mushrooms with corncobs is both economical and environmentally friendly, in line with the direction of green and sustainable development. However, the techniques must be mastered during operation so as to better ensure good returns.