Grain-mushroom intercropping planting model boosts yield and income

Corn-oyster mushroom intercropping uses a 2:1 intercropping cultivation form, improving field ventilation and light penetration; the oyster mushroom production requires more watering, which is very beneficial to corn growth. The spent mushroom substrate still contains relatively rich organic nutrients and can be turned into the soil as high-quality farmyard manure to build soil fertility.

Intercropped corn can be sown in late April; on the basis of early-spring plowing and harrowing, spread farmyard manure, form ridges 60 cm wide, with plant spacing smaller than that of pure corn stands, and add the corn plants from the mushroom rows to the rows on both sides respectively, ensuring the number of corn plants reaches 2900-3300 plants. The seed should be carefully selected, using precision or semi-precision sowing, and at the same time apply starter fertilizer with the seed, minimizing the number of field operations. For topdressing during the growth period, soil management and operations are the same as for conventional pure corn stands.

Before sowing oyster mushrooms, first make the ridges for cultivating oyster mushrooms into beds 80 cm wide, about 2 cm deep, and 3-5 m long. For the substrate, use locally available materials, such as straw, corn stalks, bean stalks, corn cobs, etc. Cut the substrate into 3 cm lengths, soak in water for 6 hours, remove and pile to ferment; the moisture content of the well-prepared substrate should be 60%-65%. Before mixing the substrate, the operator's hands and tools should be disinfected with 3% potassium permanganate solution. When mixing the substrate, carbendazim is used to disinfect the culture material; the amount of carbendazim should be 0.26% of the substrate weight. Then mix the substrate evenly with 0.3% gypsum, 0.3% sugar, 0.3% urea, and 0.5% bran, ready for inoculation.

Inoculation can be carried out in early May. First spread a layer of substrate on the bed bottom, sprinkle a layer of spawn, then spread another layer of substrate, sprinkle another layer of spawn, continuously laying three layers of substrate and three layers of spawn. Each layer should be compacted with a wooden board; after laying, the total thickness is about 15 cm, using 8-10 bottles of spawn per square meter. After inoculation, cover with a layer of newspaper, then a layer of plastic film, pull tight and press firmly. Before the corn rises, the bed surface should be covered with branches, rice straw, etc. for shade. Under natural conditions in May-June, the mycelium generally matures after 25-30 days. A white mycelial film forms on the bed surface, and mushrooms are about to emerge. At this point remove the shade material and uncover the plastic film. From inoculation to the mushroom emergence stage, generally no more management is needed, only timely watering to maintain moisture or drainage when rain is heavy. Generally, from June to September, mushrooms can be harvested 3-4 times; with proper management, 5 times can be harvested.