Five methods of water management during the fruiting period of enoki mushroom
Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) is both a delicious food and a fairly good health food, and its domestic and international markets are increasingly broad. However, enoki mushroom cultivation and management have relatively high requirements, especially the water requirements for fruiting body development. China Agricultural Technology Network now introduces water management methods for reference. Moisture retention to promote pinning. When the mycelium reaches the bottom of the bag...
Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) is both a delicious food and a fairly good health food, and its domestic and international markets are increasingly broad. However, enoki mushroom cultivation and management have relatively high requirements, especially the water requirements for fruiting body development. China Agricultural Technology Network now introduces water management methods for reference.
Moisture retention to promote pinning. After the mycelium reaches the bottom of the bag, immediately open the bag and scratch the surface, rake away the old mycelial skin, and cover with wet newspaper or plastic film to retain moisture and promote pinning. For those covered with newspaper, water should be sprayed in small amounts several times (3-4 times per day) to keep the newspaper moist; for those covered with plastic film, water can be sprayed on the ground and into the air to maintain air humidity at about 90%. During this period, open the windows once a day for ventilation, keep the room temperature at 10-14°C, and after 5-7 days a large number of mushroom pins will appear.
Lower temperature and humidity. When the pins grow to 1-2 cm, they enter the growth inhibition stage. At this time, reduce or stop spraying water and lower the humidity. For 3-5 consecutive days, open doors and windows at night to let cold air in to lower the temperature and disperse moisture, bringing the room temperature down to below 8°C (4-5°C is best) and the humidity down to about 75%, so that the fruiting bodies are inhibited and grow uniformly and robustly.
Promote growth. When the fruiting bodies grow to 3-4 cm and enter the elongation stage, spray water 4-5 times per day. The amount of water sprayed increases as the mushrooms grow; keep the air humidity at about 90% (that is, fine water droplets attached to the bag wall at the base of the fruiting bodies is ideal) to promote rapid growth of the fruiting bodies. At the same time, ventilate appropriately, and adopt alternating wet and dry conditions to inhibit the enlargement of the caps and promote the elongation of the stipes. At this stage, the amount of water sprayed should be determined according to the weather: spray more on sunny days and less on rainy days, to prevent root rot and brown spot disease caused by excessive water use and to prevent excessive water content in the mushroom bodies from reducing quality. Never spray water onto the mushroom caps; if the newspaper is found to be damaged, replace it promptly; if water accumulates on the newspaper, pour it off immediately, to prevent the mushroom bodies from contacting water droplets and producing black spots that affect the commercial appearance.
Spray water to replenish moisture. After the first flush of mushrooms is harvested, the water content of the mushroom bags drops by 20-30%, and after the second flush is harvested it drops by 30-50%. Therefore, after the first and second flushes are harvested, immediately spray water into the mushroom bags after scratching the surface to replenish moisture. The method is: for 2-3 consecutive days, spray water directly into the bags 2-3 times per day, each time just enough to moisten the surface of the mycelial column, and do not allow water to accumulate in the bags. To increase yield, a small amount of urea, white sugar, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, etc. can be added to the water to supplement nutrients.
Soaking the mycelial column in water. After harvesting the third flush, the water content of the mycelial column has dropped below 50%. At this time, the plastic bag can be removed, and the mycelial column placed in a pool of water to soak. When the mycelial column has absorbed water and recovered to its original weight at the time the bag was opened, take it out, let it dry slightly, and put it into a bag. Alternatively, water can be injected directly into the bag for soaking, and after the mycelial column has absorbed enough water, pour out the excess water from the bag. After replenishing the water, rearrange the mushroom bags on the bed racks, cover with wet newspaper, and manage as usual; in this way, two more flushes of mushrooms can be harvested.
Water management during the fruiting period of enoki mushroom is related to its yield and quality. Therefore, water management during the fruiting period must be well controlled. Through the above five methods, two more flushes of enoki mushrooms can be harvested, increasing the yield.