Six-Part Series on Autumn Mushroom Production, Part Three

3. Disinfection and treatment of new mushroom sheds, establishing the concept of "prevention": this means emphasizing the prevention principle of "prevention first, combining prevention and treatment." Inside the shed, drugs such as Baibing Quwuzong and phoxim can be used. The general dosage is 1 bag of Baibing Quwuzong mixed with 50 grams of phoxim, sprayed over about 30 sq m. The targets of application are the ground, walls, and support columns, etc., and carpet-style spraying is required. Then seal the mushroom shed, roll up the grass mats to sun the shed, and after 2 days of sealing, bags can be brought in for spawn running or fruiting; for preventive medication during spawn running and fruiting, spray Mushroom Shabingling or Baibing Quwuzong once about every 5 days, but be careful not to spray directly on the fruiting bodies.

4. Disinfection and treatment of old mushroom sheds, establishing the concept of "one-time kill": in mushroom sheds used continuously for many years, a considerable number of contaminating microorganisms, pathogenic spores, and insect eggs will inevitably remain in the shed, so thorough disinfection and treatment is even more necessary. Generally, 1 bag of Baibing Quwuzong mixed with 40 grams of phoxim can be used, sprayed carpet-style over about 20 sq m, then seal the mushroom shed, roll up the grass mats to sun the shed, and after 2 days of sealing, apply the drugs again and continue sealing and sunning the shed. Only after 2-7 days can bags be brought in for spawn running.

Finally, one point is specially raised for readers' reference: this autumn, especially for early-autumn cultivation, temperatures are relatively high, and this year's climate also shows an El Nino trend. For mushroom production, this is a signal that deserves close attention. Therefore, it is suggested that mushroom growers cultivating from August to October, before treating the mushroom shed, first fill the shed with a large amount of water, and after the water seeps down, heavily spray Baibing Quwuzong for chemical disinfection. Then, before the spawn bags are brought into the shed, spread fresh lime powder inside the shed at 0.25 kg per sq m, and afterward move the spawn bags in; in this way, the shed temperature can be lowered and the activity of certain contaminating microorganisms and pathogens can be inhibited to the greatest extent, thereby reducing the probability of disease occurrence.

Part Four: Raw Materials and Supplies, Use Local Materials

According to the varieties, seasons, and cultivation quantities planned as described above, arrange the purchase and storage of raw materials and supplies as early as possible, so as to avoid inadequate preparation that makes the plan impossible to implement. If you want to cultivate Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom), you should collect or buy wheat straw or rice straw, cow manure or chicken manure, etc., as early as possible; to cultivate oyster mushrooms, you need to reserve enough cottonseed hulls, or corncobs; other crop straws such as soybean straw and cotton stalks can also be used, and the principle is to use local materials as much as possible; if producing shiitake mushrooms, preparing hard broadleaf sawdust in advance is necessary, or purchasing such branches and tree stumps and processing sawdust yourself. For example, prunings from apple, chestnut, and pear trees, eliminated old fruit trees, and branches of oak species can all be used. For the selection of spawn bags and cultivation bags, quality should be the primary criterion.