Detailed Explanation of Button Mushroom Cultivation Techniques in Rice Fields (Part 5)

V. Integrated Pest and Disease Control

Integrated pest and disease control should adhere to the principle of prevention first, with prevention being more important than treatment, and to the principle of combining agricultural control, physical control, biological and ecological control, and chemical control. The use of highly toxic and high-residue pesticides must be eliminated, and no pesticides should be used during the mushroom harvesting period. Diseases and deformed mushrooms caused by environmental factors or improper technical management (such as red-foot mushrooms, landmine mushrooms, big-ball mushrooms, scaly mushrooms, etc.), as well as weed fungi (such as Coprinus mushrooms, etc.), should be controlled primarily through integrated measures. Main measures: First, the compost formula must be accurate, and the material combination must be reasonable; second, fermentation must be uniform, and water management must be appropriate; third, casing soil must be applied carefully, and disinfection must be strict; fourth, management must be standardized, problems must be dealt with promptly when discovered, and the soil pH as well as temperature and humidity environmental conditions must be adjusted in a timely manner.

At present, the main pests harming button mushrooms include: mites, mushroom maggots, nematodes, snails, etc. Mites mainly feed on mycelium and also feed on fruiting bodies. They are a major enemy harming button mushrooms, so great attention must be paid to mite control, and once discovered, they must be eliminated quickly. Mushroom maggots mainly harm the base of fruiting bodies. They bite through the mycelium connecting the base, causing the fruiting bodies to wither and die. Insect pests mainly harm fruiting bodies, while snails mainly harm the caps. If the above pests appear, pesticides should be applied promptly to kill them.

During the mushroom fruiting period, whether for disease prevention or pest control, special attention should be paid to the following: First, it is strictly forbidden to use highly toxic drugs or drugs with a long residual period during the fruiting period; second, pesticide application must not exceed the dosage; third, pesticide application should be carried out in the afternoon or evening; fourth, it is best to choose pollution-free pesticides.

VI. Timely Harvesting

From sowing to harvesting, button mushrooms generally need about 35 days. When the caps of button mushrooms grow to 2 cm to 4 cm wide, they should be harvested at the appropriate time. Harvesting requires a flat cut surface, a single cut, no muddy base, and a stipe length of 0.5 cm to 1 cm. During harvesting, harvest by grade, handle gently, and keep the caps white and free of wounds. During the harvesting process, promptly dig out old roots, add new soil, and keep the bed surface flat. It is forbidden to press the mushroom bed surface with hands or feet. Keep the site clean and hygienic to reduce the rate of weed fungus infection. (End)