Detailed Explanation of High-Efficiency Cultivation Techniques for Straw Mushroom, Lecture 3

Straw Mushroom Bed Cultivation Techniques

Straw mushroom shelf-bed cultivation is currently a commonly used cultivation method. Building shelves inside a house or shed not only makes full use of space and improves utilization, but also provides good moisture retention and insulation, is easy to manage, and gives high and stable yields.

1. Mushroom House Setup

1.1 Dedicated Mushroom House: For cultivating straw mushrooms, a dedicated straw mushroom house can be built. This mushroom house is suitable for year-round production. The mushroom house is 3-4m long, 2m wide, and 2.5m high. The four walls are lined with 1-2cm thick foam plastic boards, and the roof is lined with 3cm thick foam plastic boards. On both sides of the mushroom house, 4-5 tiers of shelves are built, with a 0.5m aisle left in the middle.

1.2 Renovation of an Empty Room: Choose a room with good insulation and moisture retention for cultivation. Set up shelves inside the room. It is best that the shelves do not lean against the walls on all sides, and the aisle width is about 0.7m. The mushroom bed width is 1m, with 3-4 tiers, and the tier spacing is about 0.6m.

1.3 Plastic Greenhouse: 2-3 tiers of shelves can be set up, with a tier spacing of 0.5m, a tier width of 1m, and a distance of 0.8-1m between each row of shelves. This type is mainly used as a summer cultivation site.

2. Selection of Cultivation Substrate: Generally speaking, any material containing cellulose can be used as a substrate for straw mushrooms. At present, the most commonly used locally are waste cotton and cottonseed hulls. Choose fresh raw materials that are free from mold, insect damage, and rain exposure. Before cultivation, it is best to sun-dry them for 2-3 days. Cultivation substrate formulas: (1) 94% cottonseed hulls, 5% lime, 1% superphosphate, and an appropriate amount of Kemei Zengchanling; (2) 95% waste cotton, 4% lime, 1% carbendazim; (3) 40% cottonseed hulls, 55% waste cotton, 4% lime, 0.5% each of superphosphate and carbendazim, with the substrate-to-water ratio adjusted to 1:1.3-1.4.

3. Secondary Fermentation of the Substrate: First, moisten the sun-dried substrate with lime water, then mix it thoroughly in the required proportions, and build a pile for fermentation for 2-3 days. During fermentation, cover it well with plastic film to provide insulation and moisture retention. Loosen and mix the piled and fermented substrate evenly, and while it is still hot, move it onto the shelves in the mushroom house. At this time, the moisture content of the substrate should preferably be about 70%, and the pH value about 9. Generally, the substrate is spread to a thickness of 7-10cm. When summer temperatures are high, spread the substrate appropriately thinner. When winter temperatures are low, spread the substrate appropriately thicker. After spreading the substrate, immediately introduce steam into the mushroom house or place a coal stove to raise the temperature, bringing the cultivation temperature to about 65°C, maintain this for 4-8 hours, and then allow it to cool naturally. When it drops to about 45°C, open the doors and windows. Secondary fermentation can kill pests and harmful contaminant fungi in the mushroom house and substrate, and is conducive to the massive proliferation of beneficial microorganisms such as thermophilic actinomycetes. This is even more beneficial to the growth of straw mushrooms and makes it easy to obtain high yields.

4. Spawning: When the substrate temperature drops below 38°C, loosen and mix the substrate evenly, level the bed surface, and compact it. Then carry out spawning. Tear off the plastic packaging of the mother spawn bags, place the spawn in a clean basin, and gently break the spawn blocks apart. Use the method of spot spawning combined with broadcast spawning. After spawning, gently pat the surface level with a wooden board so that the spawn and substrate are closely combined, which helps colonization. The spawning rate is 2-3 bags per square meter.

5. Management After Spawning: After spawning, cover the bed surface with plastic film, uncover the film 1-2 times a day for ventilation, and pay attention to controlling the temperature inside the substrate. After spawning, the temperature inside the substrate gradually rises, generally reaching its highest point in 3-4 days. The maximum temperature inside the substrate should be controlled below 42°C as much as possible; otherwise, if the temperature is too high, a large amount of water in the substrate will evaporate, and the straw mushroom mycelium will be severely inhibited or die. If the temperature inside the substrate is too high, promptly analyze the cause and take measures to solve it. If the moisture inside the substrate is insufficient and the substrate is too dry, sprinkle water to replenish moisture and lower the temperature; if the substrate is too thick, strengthen indoor ventilation, lift the plastic on the substrate surface, and make holes in the substrate to release the heat inside.

Generally, 5-6 days after spawning, when the straw mushroom mycelium begins to knot, promptly increase the humidity on the substrate surface, apply the "fruiting water" properly, and increase indoor light to promote the formation of straw mushroom fruiting bodies. When a large number of white straw-seed-like primordia form, focus on moisture retention, maintain the relative air humidity above 90%, and temporarily stop spraying water on the bed surface. When the mushroom buds grow to the size of a button to a chestnut, their water requirement gradually increases, and water should be replenished in time. When spraying water, the nozzle should face upward and the mist should be fine so as not to wash away or injure the young mushrooms. Here, the water temperature should be consistent with the temperature in the mushroom house. Do not use water colder than the air temperature, otherwise the young mushrooms will be harmed.

6. Harvesting: About 3-4 days after the straw-seed-sized straw mushroom primordia form, they can be harvested at the proper time. At this point, the mushroom bodies are smooth and plump, and the universal veil has not yet ruptured. After the first flush of mushrooms is harvested, promptly tidy the bed surface, remove mushroom bases and dead mushrooms, apply a supplementary nutrient water once, and water all over once with 1% lime water, so as to adjust the pH and moisture content of the substrate. After 2-3 days of mycelium recovery, fruiting bodies can again emerge successively.