Morel Mushroom Cultivation Techniques: Planting Methods and Key Management Points

The morel mushroom is a world-renowned gourmet edible fungus and a premium nutritional tonic. It has the functions of tonifying the kidney, strengthening yang, nourishing the brain, and refreshing the mind. It noticeably improves erectile dysfunction and diminished sexual function. Long-term consumption can prevent cancer, fight cancer, prevent colds, and boost human immunity, and it holds important value for medical development. The morel has a unique flavor, delicious taste, and rich nutrition. According to measurements, every 100 grams of morel contains 28.1 grams of crude protein and 4.4 grams of crude fat, as many as 20 amino acids, and extremely rich vitamins and minerals. Some nutritional components exceed those of Cordyceps sinensis. It is a premium natural health food and is hailed as the "king of foods."

I. Biological Environment

1. Temperature and humidity. The morel belongs to the low-temperature, high-humidity type of fungus. It mostly appears after rain from March to May, and occasionally from August to September. Its growth period is long. Besides requiring relatively low temperatures, it also needs a large temperature difference to stimulate mycelial differentiation. The mycelial growth temperature is 21-24°C; the fruiting body formation and development temperature is 4.4-16°C, and the relative air humidity is 65%-85%. For this reason, cultivation should be carried out in November to December.

2. Sunlight. Weak scattered light is beneficial to the growth and development of the fruiting body. Strong direct light should be avoided.

3. Soil. The soil pH should be 6.5-7.5. Neutral or slightly alkaline soil is favorable for morel growth. Morels often grow in limestone or chalk soils. They can grow in humus soil, black or yellow loam, and sandy mixed soil.

4. Air. In dark places and under excessively thick layers of fallen leaves, morels rarely appear. Sufficient oxygen is essential for the growth and development of morels.

II. Cultivation Substrate Formulas

① 75% sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1% phosphate fertilizer, 1% gypsum, 3% humus soil. ② 75% cottonseed hulls, 20% wheat bran, 1% gypsum, 1% lime, 3% humus soil. ③ 40% corncob (crushed), 20% sawdust, 15% bean hulls, 20% wheat bran, 1% phosphate fertilizer, 1% gypsum, 1% sugar, 2% plant ash. ④ 74.5% crop straw powder, 20% wheat bran, 1% phosphate fertilizer, 1% gypsum, 0.5% lime, 3% humus soil. The substrate-to-water ratio of the culture material is 1:1.3, and the water content should be 60%.

III. Cultivation Techniques

(1) Sterilized substrate cultivation in removed bags

1. Mix the material according to a material-to-water ratio of 1:1.3, then pile it for fermentation for 20 days. Use 17 cm x 33 cm polypropylene or polyethylene plastic bags to hold the material, with 500-600 grams per bag, and sterilize at 100°C for 8 hours, after which the spawn can be inoculated. Use the two-end inoculation method, seal the bag opening well, and culture at 22-25°C for 30 days, after which the mycelium can fill the bag. Five to six days after the mycelium fills the bag, cultivation can begin.

2. Indoor cultivation in removed bags. Cultivate immediately after disinfecting the mushroom house. First lay plastic film on each shelf surface, cover it with 3 cm of humus soil, flatten it, and then arrange the bag-removed fungus logs one by one on the bed. Each square meter of bed surface can hold 40 plastic fungus bags of 17 cm x 33 cm. After arranging the fungus logs, spray water lightly once, then cover with 3-5 cm of soil, cover the surface with 2 cm of bamboo leaves or broadleaf tree fallen leaves, and keep the soil moist. Fruiting bodies can grow after 1 month. In southern regions, the best mushroom emergence period is from March 10 to April 20.

3. Outdoor cultivation in removed bags. Choose woodland with 30% sunlight and 70% shade to make beds. The bed width is 1 m and the depth is 15-20 cm. After preparing the beds, spray or lightly water once, and use 10% lime water to kill pests and miscellaneous fungi in the beds. The methods of removing bags, arranging fungus logs, and managing mushroom emergence are the same as for indoor cultivation, except that no plastic film needs to be laid on the bottom layer. Pay attention to temperature changes in the beds and prevent direct sunlight.

(2) Outdoor raw material cultivation

Choose an outdoor site with 30% sunlight and 70% shade or half shade and half sun, loose and moist soil, and good drainage, and dig a pit 20-25 cm deep. Wet the bottom of the pit with water, add water to the prepared cultivation material and mix evenly, spread a layer of material on the bottom layer, and after flattening it to a thickness of 4-5 cm, use 2 bags of spawn (12 cm x 28 cm) per square meter, break it into walnut-sized spawn pieces, evenly scatter them on the material, and cover with a thin layer of fine humus soil. Then spread a second layer of material on top, still 4-5 cm thick, flatten it, and sow again in the same way. After sowing, cover with loose humus soil to a thickness of 3-5 cm, and cover with a layer of broadleaf tree leaves. After covering, sprinkle water, and build some tree branches over the leaves.

(3) Management after planting

Morels like moisture, and the growing environment must maintain humidity. In outdoor cultivation, if there is more rain in winter and especially in early spring and the temperature is suitable, the mycelium and fruiting bodies grow well. If drought occurs in early spring, water must be applied in a timely manner. A temperature of 4-16°C within a few weeks in early spring can stimulate the formation of morel fruiting bodies; if the temperature changes drastically at this time (below 4°C or above 16°C), it will affect the development of the fruiting bodies. In short, maintaining suitable temperature and humidity for morels in early spring is the key to successful cultivation.

(4) Pest and disease control

Pests and diseases can occur during both mycelial and fruiting body growth. Prevention should be the main approach, keeping the site environment clean and hygienic. Carry out site sterilization and pest-killing treatment before sowing. If pests occur later, before the fruiting bodies grow, spray pyrethrum or 10% lime water to kill them.

(5) Harvesting, processing, and storage

The fruiting bodies mature 7-10 days after emerging from the soil. When the color changes from dark gray to light gray or brownish yellow and the honeycomb-like depressions on the cap surface are fully extended, they can be harvested. After harvesting, clean off the soil, dry them in the sun or by drying promptly, and place them in plastic bags for sealed storage. During drying and processing, do not break the mushroom caps. They can be dried using a tobacco curing barn or sun-dried. Do not smoke them over a wood fire, so as not to affect quality. After grading by quality, pack them in plastic bags and store them in a cool, dry, and ventilated place.