Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for High-Yield Cultivation of Rice Field Mushrooms

1. Seize the best sowing period. According to the suitable temperature for mushroom growth, determine the composting time and sowing period based on altitude. Taking the climatic conditions of our Dazhou area as an example, for places below 500 m in altitude, it is suitable to compost around September 20 and sow around October 13; for places at 800-1000 m in altitude, it is suitable to compost around September 10 and sow around September 23. Sowing too early will cause the first batch of mushrooms to die from high temperatures when they emerge; sowing too late will affect mushroom yield.

2. Reasonably adjust the cultivation material formula. With the decrease in rural farm cattle, the area using cattle manure for composting to cultivate mushrooms has also been correspondingly limited. Therefore, use rice, wheat, and grass plus 8%-10% rice bran and 2%-3% compound fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and other auxiliary materials to supplement the carbon and nitrogen nutrients needed for mushroom growth and development.

3. Select excellent mushroom strains. At present, our region uses the mushroom 2796 variety. The strain is the leading factor in the entire cultivation process and is crucial. Whether introducing strains or keeping one's own seed, be sure to select authentic, robust, age-appropriate strains free of miscellaneous bacteria infection before use in production.

4. Selection of soil quality for rice field mushroom cultivation. For soil suitable for mushroom cultivation, choose loam field plots with "30% clay and 70% sand." Because soil that is too clayey has a small proportion of capillary pores and poor air permeability; while soil that is too sandy hardens when it meets water and also has poor air permeability. Both types of soil are unfavorable for high mushroom yields. At the same time, pay attention to selecting field plots close to a water source and also favorable for drainage.

5. Design of the mushroom shed and ridge beds. The mushroom shed is preferably designed to be 5 m wide and 15 m long. If the mushroom shed is too long and the space is too large, it is not conducive to temperature control or ventilation, and will cause serious carbon dioxide accumulation. The ridge bed is preferably 60 cm wide and the ridge ditch 50 cm wide, which is conducive to ventilation and can improve mushroom yield and quality.

6. Prevent the occurrence of diseases and insect pests in mushroom beds. During the mushroom cultivation process, diseases and insect pests occur from time to time. In order to reduce mushroom losses caused by disease and insect damage, the policy of "prevention first, combining prevention and control" should be adopted. First, ensure that the raw materials used for cultivation are fresh, dry, and free of mildew, strictly carry out composting and fermentation, and during the last turning of the pile, spray high-efficiency, low-toxicity pesticides for insect and disease control while turning. In addition, the soil particles used for casing soil must also be strictly disinfected to avoid bringing diseases and insect pests in from the soil particles.