How to choose a mushroom yard for shiitake log cultivation

Shiitake log cultivation -- choosing a mushroom yard

Artificial log cultivation of shiitake in China began around 1313 AD, when Wang Zhen's "Agricultural Treatise" recorded the artificial cut-flower method of producing shiitake. This method continued to be used until the 1960s, and only with the spread of the new pure-mycelium inoculation technique did shiitake production achieve new development.

The old cut-flower method involved cutting many notches into tree trunks so that shiitake spores from nature could naturally invade, inoculate and grow into shiitake. This extensive cultivation method and production process were relatively simple and required no special equipment, so production could be carried out in remote deep mountains and dense forests with poor transport. However, because it relied on natural spore inoculation, the success rate was very low, the cycle was very long, the yield was very low, and the waste of forest resources was relatively serious, so it has now gradually been phased out. The new pure-mycelium inoculation technique has the characteristics of early fruiting, high yield, good quality, being conducive to scientific management, and facilitating the selection, breeding and promotion of fine varieties, so it is now widely adopted in various regions.

Choosing a mushroom yard

This is one of the keys determining the success or failure of shiitake cultivation. When choosing a mushroom yard, overall consideration should be given to temperature, humidity, avoiding or reducing pests and diseases, and the resources of tree species suitable for cultivating shiitake. The mushroom yard is required to have nearby tree species suitable for cultivating shiitake and to be usable for long-term rotation; to have evergreen shade trees, that is, three parts shade and seven parts sun in autumn and winter, and seven parts shade and three parts sun in spring and summer is preferable; to have a convenient water source and good ventilation and drainage; and the soil should preferably be sandy soil with plenty of gravel. Generally, it should be chosen on the eastern, southern or southeastern hillside slopes that are sheltered from wind and face the sun.

After the mushroom yard is chosen, weeds, fallen leaves, small trees and shrubs, etc. should be cleared away to facilitate ventilation and eliminate contaminating microbes. After clearing the site, lime should be used for disinfection, and the roads for transporting the mushroom logs should be cleared.