How to Increase Straw Mushroom Yield? Master These Four Key Measures
I. Timing and Production Methods Indoor cultivation can use mushroom houses and other idle rooms. Outdoor cultivation can use either small arch sheds or plastic greenhouses. Whichever method is used, it must meet the requirements of shading, wind protection, heat preservation and moisture retention. The extended cultivation time is basically close to but still below the optimum for straw mushroom growth...
During the growth of straw mushrooms, taking certain measures appropriately can achieve a yield-increasing effect.I. Secondary Inoculation Adopting the measure of secondary inoculation is beneficial for increasing straw mushroom yield. The mycelium of straw mushrooms grows too fast and is extremely prone to aging, which leads to weakened vitality and an inability to effectively use the nutrients in the substrate to continue producing mushrooms. After harvesting the first flush, loosen the surface of the substrate, sprinkle and drench with lime water until thoroughly wet, adjust the pH of the substrate to 8-9, then broadcast spawn on the surface of the substrate, and after broadcasting cover with a thin layer of fermented substrate. Alternatively, after harvesting the first and second flushes, turn the substrate block over, turn the bottom layer of substrate to the surface, spray with 1% lime water to replenish water and adjust the pH, then perform secondary inoculation on the surface with an inoculation amount of 2%-3%, which generally can increase yield by about 30%. When cultivating straw mushrooms with rice straw, 4 days after stacking the straw and inoculating, insert spawn into the gaps between the straw layers for secondary inoculation, with an inoculation amount of about 20% of the first inoculation. In this way, after the first flush is harvested, the spawn from the second inoculation can decompose from the straw pile, accumulate nutrients, and continue to produce mushrooms.
II. Adjusting pH During the growth of straw mushrooms, a large amount of nutrients in the substrate is consumed, producing metabolites, among which organic acids can increase the acidity of the substrate and affect the normal recovery of straw mushroom mycelium and continued mushroom production. After harvesting the first flush, supplementing some nutrient solution and adjusting the substrate to be slightly alkaline can promote mycelial recovery, extend the harvest period, and increase mushroom yield. (1) Spraying 3% lime water onto the substrate can not only replenish water but also make the substrate slightly alkaline. (2) Spraying 0.1% urea and bran water onto the substrate (100 kg water plus 10 kg bran, boiled and filtered, take 50 kg filtrate plus 50 kg clean water). The urea dosage is 0.1%-0.2%; the dosage must not be too much, otherwise it easily produces Coprinus weeds. (3) Supplement with dry cow dung and human urine. Break up the dry cow dung, add 40% human urine, mix evenly, pile for one day before use, and apply to the substrate surface after each flush is harvested. If some chicken or duck manure is added, the effect will be even better.
III. Implementing Casing Soil Casing soil for straw mushrooms can improve the moisture retention performance of the substrate and its adaptability to humidity changes, making the mushrooms plump, reducing dead mushrooms, with a yield increase range of 20%-40%. The casing soil material can be garden soil (dug from below 8-10 cm of the surface), and the casing soil thickness is generally preferably 2 cm.
IV. Covering with Plastic Film After inoculating straw mushrooms, covering around the mushroom bed with plastic film can raise and stabilize the substrate temperature, maintain humidity, increase the carbon dioxide concentration in the microclimate around the substrate surface, promote the reproduction of related microorganisms, and promote the growth of straw mushroom mycelium. Covering with plastic film should be done immediately after inoculation; the earlier the better. To prevent the plastic film from clinging tightly to the substrate surface and affecting the normal respiration of the spawn, some rice straw or wheat straw soaked in lime water can be scattered on the substrate surface. After covering with plastic film, attention should be paid to checking the substrate temperature. If the substrate temperature exceeds 40°C, the film should be removed promptly to cool it down. After covering with plastic film for 4 days, the film should be regularly uncovered for ventilation or propped up with bamboo strips to prevent excessive vegetative growth of surface mycelium and to prevent it from affecting the extension of mycelium into the substrate. After mushroom buds appear, the covering film should be uncovered promptly, or the film should be propped up, to prevent the mushroom buds from suffocating due to lack of oxygen.