A Complete Guide to King Oyster Mushroom Cultivation Precautions
Everyone is surely familiar with the king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) and has eaten it. It gets its name from its almond-like aroma and its thick, abalone-like flesh. It is a mushroom variety developed in recent years, sells extremely well on the market, delivers significant economic returns, and has strong cultivation prospects. So what should you pay attention to when cultivating it? Below, Qinnong Web brings you its cultivation precautions.
1. Cultivation substrate
The king oyster mushroom requires relatively high nutrition for cultivation and growth. It has an extremely strong ability to decompose lignin and cellulose. In an environment with sufficient nitrogen, it grows vigorously and yields high output. There are many substrates suitable for its growth, such as sawdust, straw, corncobs, and sugarcane bagasse, which can be used as the main ingredients. After sieving and crushing them, mix in corn flour, calcium carbonate, white sugar, and gypsum powder, stir well, and it is ready. When bagging or filling bottles, remember to carry out disinfection treatment to prevent the breeding of pathogens, which could infect the mycelium and hinder growth.
2. Temperature and humidity
The king oyster mushroom is relatively strict about temperature during growth. If the temperature is too high or too low, it is difficult for mushrooms to form, which is unfavorable for growth, so its suitable growth temperature must be ensured. Generally, it is cultivated in autumn-winter and winter-spring. In areas with higher temperatures, the cultivation time should be changed according to the temperature. Generally, cultivation begins when the temperature is below 18 degrees, but the temperature for mycelial growth is between 22-38 degrees, and it should not be higher than 30 degrees. During mushroom formation, the temperature should be maintained between 10-18 degrees. Below 8 degrees, primordia will not form; above 20 degrees, deformed mushrooms are likely to appear, which can easily lead to disease and cause dead and rotten mushrooms. In addition, during the mycelial growth stage, the water content of the cultivation substrate should be about 60%, while during the fruiting body growth stage, the air humidity should be maintained at about 90%.
3. Light and ventilation
After the spawn is inoculated, during the mycelial growth stage, no light is needed and it should be kept in a dark environment, but fresh air is required, so ventilation should be strengthened. With insufficient ventilation, mycelial growth is extremely slow, primordium differentiation is delayed, and mushroom buds shrink. During the mushroom formation period, certain lighting conditions are needed, but the light should not be too strong. Artificial scattered light can be used for illumination, and ventilation should be strengthened. Insufficient light is unfavorable for mushroom formation and prone to disease, causing dead mushrooms.
4. Sterilization
The king oyster mushroom is extremely susceptible to contamination, so the sterilization time should be longer than for other fungi and mushrooms. Generally, atmospheric-pressure sterilization requires maintaining the temperature at 100°C. The sterilization duration depends on the quantity. Generally, for sterilizing 1000 bags, it should be maintained for more than 12 hours; for 2000 bags, more than 14 hours; and so on. Roughly, every 1000 bags requires two hours. In addition, after sterilization, secondary contamination should be prevented, and cooling should take place in a sterile and clean environment. To ensure the success rate of inoculation, it is recommended to inoculate directly inside an inoculation box.
The above are the king oyster mushroom cultivation precautions brought to you by Qinnong Web. That is all for what to pay attention to in king oyster mushroom cultivation. We hope it is helpful to you. For more related cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to Qinnong Web.