Detailed Explanation of Key Points for High-Yield Cultivation Techniques of Polyporus umbellatus
Polyporus umbellatus is also known as wild boar dung, ground black peach, powder Polyporus umbellatus, etc. It is the sclerotium of the fungus Polyporus umbellatus in the family Polyporaceae, order Polyporales. As a medicine, it has the functions of promoting urination and draining dampness, and in recent years it has also been found to have anti-cancer effects. It is widely distributed in China, being produced in Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, Liaoning, Jilin, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Gansu and other provinces. Now let us take a look at the high-yield cultivation techniques for Polyporus umbellatus!
Growth Characteristics
Polyporus umbellatus prefers fertile, moist, humus-rich, well-drained sunny slopes and cultivated land. It begins to grow when the temperature 5 cm below the ground surface is 8-9°C, with optimum growth at 15-20°C. At 25-30°C the mycelium stops growing and enters a short-term dormancy or produces fruiting bodies, surviving adverse environments and reproducing through spores. In late autumn and early winter, when the temperature 5 cm below the ground surface falls below 8°C, it again enters the winter dormancy period. During the year, April to June and September to October are the active growth periods for Polyporus umbellatus mycelium.
Material Preparation for Cultivation ⟧7⟧For Polyporus umbellatus cultivation, select hard broadleaf tree logs such as oak, birch, maple, maple, alder, mulberry, willow and various other hardwoods, about 10 cm in diameter, cut into 60 cm lengths, and sun-dry for 10-15 days to bring the moisture content to about 70%. Then drill three rows of holes at intervals of 3-5 cm in a triangular arrangement, and fill the holes completely with Polyporus umbellatus spawn.
For planting Polyporus umbellatus, select hard broadleaf tree logs from oak, birch, maple, maple, alder, mulberry, willow and other species, about 10 cm in diameter, saw them into 60 cm lengths, and dry them in the sun for 10-15 days until the moisture content is about 70%, then drill three rows of holes spaced 3-5 cm apart in a staggered pattern, and fill the holes with Polyporus umbellatus spawn.
Site Selection and Land Preparation
For Polyporus umbellatus cultivation, select moist, well-aerated, slightly acidic sandy loam soil with a moisture content of 30-50%. A southwest- or northwest-facing semi-shaded slope is best, with a slope of 20-30 degrees. After selecting the site, dig pits along the slope for cultivation, with a pit depth of 50 cm and both length and width of 70 cm.
Cultivation Time
The best time to cultivate Polyporus umbellatus is spring from March to April or autumn from July to August, when Polyporus umbellatus is passing through its dormancy period and entering its growth period, and Armillaria mellea is also in its growth period, allowing the two to establish a good symbiotic relationship with each other.
Pit Cultivation
Loosen the pit bottom by 7-10 cm, place 1/3 humus soil, level it, lay a layer of soaked dry oak leaves, and place the Polyporus umbellatus logs flat on the leaves with a spacing of 6-10 cm. Place some Armillaria mellea branches between the logs, then scatter the Armillaria mellea cultivated spawn onto the leaves and branches. Place small Polyporus umbellatus tightly beside the Armillaria mellea logs. Then fill with humus soil, press gently and firmly without leaving gaps, keeping the firmness moderate and not pressing too tightly. Finally, cover with 10-15 cm of fine soil, and cover the top of the pit with dead branches and fallen leaves, slightly higher than the ground surface, forming a turtle-back shape to facilitate drainage.
Post-Planting Management
Polyporus umbellatus cultivation requires no fertilization and no weeding; let it remain in a wild state. However, keep the pit soil appropriately moist at all times, and prevent trampling by people and livestock and damage by rodents. Do not arbitrarily dig and inspect either, so as not to destroy the symbiotic relationship between the two.
Harvesting and Processing
Polyporus umbellatus has a perennial habit. Within one or two years the yield is not high; it is in the third or fourth year of cultivation that it reaches its vigorous reproductive period. During harvest, pay attention to the sclerotia in the surface soil layer. It can be harvested throughout the year, with summer and autumn harvest being preferable. Those that are black in color and hard in texture are called old sclerotia; these are the commercial Polyporus umbellatus, that is, the first-generation and second-generation Polyporus umbellatus. At harvest, remove the old and keep the young. Clean the harvested Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia by removing impurities and scrubbing them thoroughly, then air-dry them naturally in sunlight. Once dry, they can be packed and transported for sale, packed in gunny bags or bamboo baskets and stored in a dry place.