What are the three key checkpoints for high-temperature mushroom cultivation?
Summer mushroom cultivation offers relatively high economic returns. To grow mushrooms well in summer, you must master the "three checkpoints": variety, fermentation, and pest and disease control.
1 Choose suitable high-temperature strains. Currently, the more heat-tolerant mushroom strains include Xincheng 96, Sumo No. 1, and others. Xincheng 96 has a suitable spawn-running temperature of 18-36°C, a suitable greenhouse temperature of 25-33°C, and a fruiting temperature of 20-36°C (optimum temperature 24-33°C). It is currently the most heat-tolerant strain, suitable for spawning in May-June and fruiting in June-September. Its greatest advantage is that the mushrooms do not discolor for 2-3 days after harvest, are not prone to opening their caps, and are easy to keep fresh. This strain has slow mycelial growth, weak decomposition ability, and high requirements for the quality of the growing substrate. Sumo No. 1 has a spawn-running temperature of 10-35°C, with an optimum temperature of 20-30°C, and a fruiting temperature of 10-35°C, with an optimum temperature of 15-32°C. It has strong vitality, fast spawn running, and early fruiting, and is suitable for spawning in March-April and fruiting in April-July.
2 Control the substrate fermentation temperature. Build the pile for fermentation during the low-temperature period in February-March. To ensure that the substrate temperature rises quickly, reaches a high level, and retains moisture for a long time, choose a site with a high base temperature and good moisture retention. For example, fermenting inside a plastic greenhouse can make the substrate temperature 3-10°C higher than the outside. Each pile should contain more than 1 tonne of dry material to better maintain the temperature and humidity during fermentation. To make the substrate temperature rise quickly and reduce the temperature difference between the inside and outside, a heating agent should be used when building the pile. The substrate temperature generally reaches 60-65°C on the fifth day. Counting from 60°C, turn the pile for the first time after 7 days, and thereafter determine the turning time according to temperature changes. When the substrate temperature drops, begin turning the pile, generally at intervals of 5-6 days. When the substrate turns coffee-colored, is elastic, not sticky to the touch, and has no off odor, it is ready for spawning and cultivation.
3 Combine prevention and control to manage pests and diseases. In mid-March, when the temperature inside the shed rises above 15°C, various pests begin to become active and various fungal spores germinate. The main pests harming mushrooms in the high-temperature season are mushroom gnats, springtails, and mites, and the main disease is the fungus Diehliomyces microsporus. Timely control of these "three pests and one disease" is one of the key points of high-temperature mushroom cultivation.
During the spawn-running period, the most effective way to control pests and diseases is chemical treatment mixed into the substrate. Xiarongning substrate-mixing agent is a pest-prevention substrate additive specially used for edible mushroom cultivation during high-temperature periods; it is safe to use, low in toxicity, and long-lasting. Before spawning, use 100 g of Xiarongning per 100 kg of substrate, add 10 kg of water, spray and mix, turning the substrate while spraying and spawning at the same time.
Substrate that has undergone mixing treatment can remain free of pest damage during the spawn-running period. After casing soil is applied, in combination with heavy application of water to adjust fruiting, mix 1/1000 Guchongjing and 1/1000 substrate-mixing agent into the water to control pests during the fruiting period. When the temperature rises above 20°C, adult mushroom gnats and springtails continuously migrate from weeds onto the mushrooms to lay eggs. When adult mushroom gnats are seen active on the mushroom bed, Guchongjing or cypermethrin can be sprayed for control. The area around the mushroom bed, the walls, and the floor must all be sprayed wet to effectively kill the adults and reduce the number of the next generation of larvae.
The pathogenic spores of Diehliomyces microsporus come from the soil. Only by eliminating the pathogen within the casing soil can it be effectively controlled. First, do not use field soil to which spent mushroom substrate has been applied; instead, dig clean middle-layer soil from paddy fields, crush it and sun-dry it, and 5 days before use spray it with a 500-fold dilution of Duogufeng, then pile and cover it for 5 days before it can be used as casing soil. During the fruiting period, pay attention to observing the dynamics of the mycelium on the soil surface. If irregular raised fungal masses appear on the soil surface and the surrounding mushrooms decrease, promptly uncover the soil surface to inspect the substrate. If the substrate is found to have changed color and has an off odor, promptly remove the soil and substrate at the contaminated area, and spray the diseased area with a 300-fold dilution of Duogufeng and a 100-fold dilution of Gujunqing. After spraying, let it dry naturally, and after 1 week add soil and water to stimulate fruiting.