Detailed Guide to Mushroom Cultivation Techniques and Cultivation Management Methods

There are many varieties of mushrooms; here we introduce the cultivation technique for the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). First, build a mushroom shed, then prepare cow manure and straw, and carry out high-temperature composting and fermentation in August. Then, spread fresh wheat straw on the mushroom bed, then spread the fermented compost, and evenly scatter the spawn on the surface of the compost. Finally, just carry out the management of the mushroom shed properly.

1. Building the Mushroom Shed

You can cultivate directly on the ground, or build a plastic greenhouse, or renovate an old building. Then prepare cow manure and straw, prepare the materials in August, and carry out high-temperature composting; if cultivating directly on the ground, the materials must be prepared successfully in one go, without a second fermentation; if using a plastic greenhouse or a renovated old building, use the second fermentation technique.

2. Spawn Cultivation

First spread a 3 cm thick layer of fresh wheat straw on the mushroom bed, then evenly spread the fermented compost onto the mushroom bed, with a compost layer thickness of 15-20 cm being suitable, then evenly scatter the spawn on the surface of the compost, gently press it firm and level it. About 15 days after sowing, when the mycelium has basically grown throughout the compost layer, carry out casing soil. It is best to choose soil with good water absorption, a granular structure, many pores, that is not sticky when wet and does not crumble when dry.

3. Mushroom Shed Management

The button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) prefers alkaline conditions; adjust the pH of the compost to 7.5-7.8, and the pH of the casing soil layer should be between 8-8.5; the temperature range for mycelium growth is 10-32°C, with a suitable temperature of 24-28°C; the fruiting body growth temperature is 10-24°C, with a suitable temperature of 14-20°C; the relative air humidity of the mushroom house should be around 90%; maintain good ventilation, and basically no light is needed.

4. Pest and Disease Control

The compost, mushroom house, and casing soil must all be disinfected, and attention must also be paid to controlling diseases such as brown blotch disease and soft rot, and pests such as springtails and mushroom flies.