High returns from intercropping mushroom cultivation in citrus orchards
The author succeeded in growing mushrooms between the rows of a densely-canopied citrus orchard, achieving a double harvest of both citrus and mushrooms. Large-scale promotion has shown that generally each mu of orchard produces more than 3000 kg of citrus per year, worth 4000 yuan; and 800 kg of fresh mushrooms, worth 3200 yuan. After deducting production costs of 1500 yuan, the total net income is more than 5700 yuan, which is more than 2000 yuan higher than growing citrus alone. Intercropping mushrooms in the orchard also helps to increase humidity, retain warmth and improve the soil.
1 Raw material preparation Each mu requires 1500 kg of dry wheat straw (rice straw or sawdust may also be used), 20 kg of lime and 15 kg of urea, and 30 kg of superphosphate. There are two treatment methods:
Composting method: Choose flat, wind-sheltered, sunny ground with good drainage to build the pile. Generally the pile is 2 m wide and 1.5 m high, with no limit on length; spread lime on the bottom and dig drainage ditches around it. Chop the wheat straw into short pieces about 3.3 cm long, then spread a layer of straw pieces, scatter a layer of the other materials, spray water once, and finally cover with a straw curtain or plastic film. To ensure even fermentation of the straw material, turn the pile once every 6-8 days, for a total of 4 turnings, taking about 1 month. The well-composted straw material should be rotted but not mushy: it forms a ball when squeezed in the hand, crumbles when shaken, the straw pieces break with a light pull, it does not stick to the hands, has no foul or ammonia smell, and is free of pests and competing molds. With this method, the nutrient utilisation rate is high and mushroom yields are abundant.
Lime-water soaking method: Place the chopped straw material (or sawdust) in 3%-4% lime water to soak, for 12 hours in summer and 24 hours in winter, so that the straw material softens and contaminating molds are killed, with the pH of the straw material reaching 7-9.
For the mushroom spawn, choose oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) and phoenix-tail mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju), which are suitable for planting in all four seasons.
2 Sowing The sowing time is March in spring or October in autumn. There are also two sowing methods.
Bag method: Put the treated straw material into plastic bags, 3-5 kg per bag, spreading a layer of straw material and a layer of spawn, for a total of 3 layers. The ratio of straw material to spawn is 10:1.5; the proportion of spawn may also be increased somewhat, which favours the growth and multiplication of the mycelium. After filling, tie the bag mouth tightly (if using a long tube rolled from plastic film, tie both ends tightly) and arrange them in rows among the trees.
Trench sowing method: Dig shallow trenches 50 cm wide and 40 cm deep between the rows, and connect them with the drainage ditches. First scatter a thin layer of lime in the trench, then scatter straw material and spawn (the ratio is the same as above), for a total of 3 layers of spawn and 4 layers of material, and finally cover with a thin layer of soil, covered with plastic film or a straw curtain. Promptly scatter jiadi powder or trichlorfon around the edges to prevent insect damage and rat damage.
3 Post-sowing management Spring mushroom management: After sowing, oyster mushrooms emerge in about 30 days and phoenix-tail mushrooms in about 20 days, with peak production in April-May. Because the outside temperature gradually rises, the early stage should focus mainly on warmth retention and moisture retention. For the bag method, when the mycelium has covered the whole bag, untie the bag mouth or the tied ends of the plastic tube and spray more water; for trench cultivation, when the mycelium has spread throughout the soil particles, spray heavily with "mushroom-setting water" so that the water content of the soil particles reaches 18%, and when the mushroom buds form, spray heavily again with "mushroom-emergence water".
Autumn mushroom management: The key point of management is to keep the water content of the soil particles at 11%-18%, neither too dry nor too wet, and moreover do not let rainwater flow into the material. If the covering soil is acidic, spray 1% dilute lime water to adjust the pH to 7-7.5. When the mycelium has grown throughout the soil particles, spray once with "mushroom-setting water" so that the water content of the soil particles reaches 20%. Then stop watering for 2-3 days, and when large numbers of mushroom buds appear, spray "mushroom-emergence water" again.
4 Harvesting About 1 month after sowing, mushrooms emerge in large numbers; when the temperature is suitable, they can be harvested 1-2 times a day, and when the temperature is low, once every 2-3 days. At the end of the picking period, spray water promptly to favour the second flush of mushrooms. Generally, those sown in autumn can be picked until April or May of the following year.