What are the key techniques for off-season mushroom cultivation?

Mushrooms are thick and tender, low in fat and high in protein, and are a good health food, becoming increasingly popular. Off-season mushroom cultivation fills the market gap, commands a relatively higher price, and can achieve relatively high economic returns.

1. Selection of cultivars: currently the main cultivars are “Xindeng 96”, “Xiagu 93” and “Taiwan High Temperature”, etc., with a fruiting temperature of 24°C-35°C.

2. Time schedule: make stock spawn in early March, make mother spawn at the end of March, and make commercial spawn in May. In early May, pile the substrate for fermentation, sow in early June, cover with soil in late June, enter the initial fruiting stage in mid-July, and finish fruiting in early September.

3. Substrate formula: the amount of materials per 100 sq m of cultivation area is: 2000 kg dry rice straw, 1200 kg dry cow dung, 20 kg urea, 10 kg ammonium bicarbonate, 50 kg cake fertilizer, 50 kg gypsum powder, 30 kg superphosphate, pH value 8.4.

4. Piling and fermentation: use the two-stage fermentation method, the same as the autumn-winter production cultivation method for Agaricus bisporus.

5. Sowing and soil covering: the sowing rate is 150 bottles of wheat-grain spawn per 100 sq m of substrate; 3/4 of the spawn is sown into the substrate layer, and after pressing the bed flat, the remaining 1/4 of the spawn is used to cover the surface. The first soil covering is about 2 cm thick with coarse soil; after the mycelium has spread over the soil covering, the second soil covering is about 1 cm thick. This method helps inhibit the growth of contaminant microbes and can improve aeration.

6. Fruiting management: during the fruiting period, manage water well, pay attention to ventilation and air exchange, reduce direct sunlight in the mushroom house, keep the temperature at 25°C-33°C during the mycelial growth stage, keep the temperature at 28°C-34°C during the fruiting body growth stage, and keep relative humidity at about 90%.

7. Pest and disease control: during mushroom growth, the temperature is high and the humidity is high, so contaminant microbes are very likely to grow and spread. Controlling contaminant microbial contamination is the key to the success or failure of mushroom cultivation, so efforts should be made to improve the net benefit of two-stage fermentation, spray concentrated limewater on the passages between mushroom beds, and regularly disinfect the air.

Insect-proof nets should be added at both ends of the mushroom shed, and slugs should be caught at night.