A Detailed Explanation of the Latest Requirements for Mushroom Growing Conditions

Many people cannot clearly tell apart the many, numerous types of edible fungi, so they call them all mushrooms. In fact, in production, "mushroom" specifically refers to one kind of fungus, namely the button mushroom, also called the white mushroom. Mushrooms are cultivated very widely in the world, with a large cultivation area, and in many regions they are the main source of income for farmers. Cultivating mushrooms has its own requirements for the environment. What kind of environmental conditions need to be created for cultivating mushrooms? Let us take a look at the introduction below.

1. Temperature

Different mushroom growth stages require different temperatures. Generally, during the early mycelium growth stage, the most suitable temperature needed is around 18 to 20 degrees, while later during the fruiting body growth stage it needs to be adjusted to 12 to 16 degrees. Generally, growing mycelium prefers a warm environment, while fruiting bodies prefer a cool environment. If the temperature is too high, the mycelium will age, and the fruiting bodies tend to open their caps. Generally, below 4 degrees they stop growing.

2. Nutrition

Mushroom growth requires a large amount of nutrition, but fungi do not have green leaves like some plants that carry out photosynthesis to produce nutrition, so they can only rely on fertilization to convert into mushroom nutrition. Generally, mushroom cultivation requires preparing a culture medium, usually composed of livestock manure together with cottonseed hulls and sawdust. Generally, the pH of the culture medium is between 6.8 and 7.5. Later, fertilizer can also be applied in appropriate amounts, applying some decomposed organic fertilizer.

3. Water

Mushroom growth, like that of outside plants, requires water, and requires a large amount of water. During the fruiting body growth stage, a large amount of water is needed, because fruiting bodies are mostly composed of water. If water is insufficient, it will affect the growth of the fruiting bodies. Generally, the moisture content of the culture medium is about 60%, and the air humidity is around 70%. If the environment is dry, mushrooms lose water; if the environmental humidity is too high, the air does not circulate.

4. Light

Edible fungi do not carry out photosynthesis, but some edible fungi need to receive some light, which is beneficial to growth. However, mushrooms do not need light and can grow in a dark environment. In cultivation, they should be grown with light shaded off, and should not be affected by strong light, which is unfavorable to growth.

5. Air

Mushroom growth requires attention to air. They are generally grown in thatched houses, which is also a closed environment. If the door is not opened for ventilation and air exchange, the indoor air is very hard to circulate, so ventilation and air exchange must generally be carried out at regular times. They need enough oxygen to grow, generally absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, so carbon dioxide must be released at regular times and oxygen brought in.

Mushroom growth and development require a dark environment, do not need light, and need suitable moisture. Mycelium growth needs warmth, and fruiting body growth needs coolness. Because oxygen is needed, ventilation and air exchange must be carried out frequently. The culture material must be rich in nutrition.