Detailed Guide to Pollution-Free Cultivation Techniques for Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus)

I. Site Selection: Choose an environment with a sound ecological setting, good water quality, no toxic or harmful gases, no various types of sewage or other pollution sources within 300 m around, and in compliance with the NY5010 pollution-free cultivation requirements.

II. Cultivation Season: Late October of the current year to early January of the following year.

III. Ingredient Mixing and Bottling (Bagging)

1. Cultivation substrate formulas: (1) 55% cottonseed hulls, 10% each of wheat bran, sawdust and rice bran, 7% cornmeal, 5% cottonseed cake, 2% superphosphate, 1% gypsum; (2) 55% corncob residue, 10% each of wheat bran, sawdust and rice bran, 7% each of cornmeal and cottonseed cake, 1% gypsum; (3) 30% corncob residue, 25% cottonseed hulls, 10% each of wheat bran, sawdust and rice bran, 7% each of cornmeal and cottonseed cake, 1% gypsum; adjust moisture content to 65% and pH 5-6.

2. Bottle (bag) preparation: First pre-wet the cottonseed hulls with an equal amount of water, then add the other substrate ingredients and mix thoroughly. Fill into 750 mL spawn bottles or 14 cm x 27 cm x 0.0045 cm polypropylene plastic bags. Press and level the substrate surface firmly, keeping the interior slightly loose. Filling must be completed within 6 hours.

IV. Sterilization and Inoculation

1. Sterilization: Autoclave (125 degrees C) for 2 hours or sterilize at atmospheric pressure (100 degrees C) for 10-12 hours.

2. Inoculation: When the substrate temperature cools to below 28 degrees C, place the bottles (bags) into an inoculation box or sterile room. Place an appropriate amount of disinfectant in the inoculation box or sterile room, seal and fumigate for 0.5 hours before inoculating; each bottle of spawn inoculates about 50 bottles or 35 bottles.

V. Mycelial Culture

1. The culture room should be disinfected regularly to keep it clean, dry, ventilated and dark.

2. Culture methods: (1) Bottle cultivation: stack in wall-style arrangement, no more than 15 bottles high. (2) Bag cultivation: stack in double layers with the inoculation surface facing up.

3. Culture management: The temperature of the spawn-running room should be 22-25 degrees C, with relative air humidity of 65-70%; use straw curtains and shade nets to block light so that the spawn-running room is basically dark; open doors and windows at appropriate times for ventilation to keep the air fresh; within one week after inoculation, check once while turning the stacks, and promptly remove inferior cultivation bottles (bags).

4. Culture time: Indoor culture for 20-25 days, with mycelium extending into 1/2-2/3 of the substrate.

VI. Uncovering and Ring Sleeving

1. Bottle cultivation: When mycelium has filled 1/3-2/3 of the bottle, remove the kraft paper covering the bottle mouth.

2. Bag cultivation: When mycelium has filled more than 1/2 of the bag, open the bag and slip on a ring about 5 cm in diameter, pressing it close to the substrate surface, then stack the cultivation bags in wall-style arrangement, with stacks no more than 7 bags high.

VII. Fruiting Management

The mushroom house should be disinfected to achieve cleanliness, ventilation and scattered light; the fruiting temperature is 12-18 degrees C; use ground watering and spatial spraying to maintain the mushroom house air humidity at 90%, and during the fruiting body growth stage maintain it at about 85%; ensure scattered light to induce primordium formation; keep the mushroom house air fresh, hang straw curtains on doors and windows, and prevent direct wind.

VIII. Harvesting

The optimal harvest time is when the spines are within 0.5-1 cm and before spores are discharged. Harvesting method: Insert a cutting knife from the edge of the fruiting body into the substrate surface, cut along the substrate surface, remove impurities, and sort by grade. After harvesting, remove impurities from the substrate surface, stop watering and rest the mycelium for 2-3 days, then manage according to fruiting requirements.

IX. Pest and Disease Control

1. Control principles: Prevention first, strictly control chemical control.

2. Prevention of main diseases: The main diseases include molds (Mucor, Neurospora, Trichoderma, Aspergillus flavus) and bacterial base rot. Prevention methods: Strictly inspect spawn sources; keep the environment clean; promptly remove diseased material when found and carry out harmless treatment; chemical pesticides are prohibited during the fruiting period.

3. Control of main insect pests: The main pests include mushroom flies, mushroom gnats and mites. Control methods: Dig trenches around the site, install screen doors and windows in the mushroom house to block pest damage, and chemical pesticides are prohibited.