Detailed Explanation of Key Points of New Open-Air Cultivation Techniques for Straw Mushrooms
For cultivating straw mushrooms, mainly rice straw is used. Materials with higher plant cellulose content such as bagasse and corn stalks can also be used. Because straw mushrooms have many sources of cultivation material, the cost is relatively low, and the cultivation technique is relatively simple, with very high economic returns. For every 100 kg of rice straw, from inoculation to fruiting takes only 12 days, and the entire production cycle is no more than one month, yielding 20-30 kg of fresh mushrooms. In this way, every 100 kg of cultivation material can create an output value of 60-120 yuan.
The straw mushroom is a fungus that likes high temperature and high humidity. The temperature required for mycelial growth is 20-40°C, but 25-35°C is most suitable. The fruiting bodies can grow and develop within the range of 34-45°C, but 38°C is most suitable. According to its biological characteristics, the most suitable seasons for growing mushrooms can generally be divided into two periods: those cultivated between the Beginning of Summer and Minor Heat are called spring mushrooms; those cultivated between the Beginning of Autumn and White Dew are called autumn mushrooms. The climate varies from place to place, but as long as the local temperature remains stable above 22°C, cultivation can begin. If indoor environmental conditions can be controlled artificially, cultivation can be carried out all year round.
When using rice straw, peanut vines, bagasse and corn stalks as cultivation material, all are required to be fresh, dry, free from mildew and deterioration, and free from pest and disease infection. When using rice straw, during collection, a bundle of rice straw should be tied tightly at the ear and stem portion with rice straw, then the rice straw should be loosely spread out to dry in the sun, and stored for later use.
Fields, hillsides, riverbanks, roadsides and idle land around courtyards can be fully used as field mushroom yards, but they must be close to a water source, with slightly higher terrain, convenient for soaking rice straw and for water use during management, and to prevent water accumulation in the rainy season. In late spring and early autumn, a sunny site should be chosen. In summer, cultivation should be carried out under tree shade or under melon trellises or indoors, and cattle sheds, mountain caves and basements can also be used as cultivation sites.
On the selected site, first open drainage ditches on the bed surface, then prepare the mushroom bed, turning the soil 15-20 cm deep. After 1-2 days of sun exposure, break up the soil clods and remove weeds. Shape the bed surface into a turtle-back form, about 15 cm high, slightly compacted in the center and slightly loose on both sides. The mushroom bed is 1-1.2 m wide and about 5-7 m long, with a bed spacing of 70 cm. After the mushroom bed is prepared, water can be irrigated to moisten the soil, and pesticide can be sprayed to kill underground pests such as mole crickets and flea beetles.
During cultivation, at a distance of 7 cm from the edge of the mushroom bed, scatter a ring of soil fertilizer (burned soil made by burning rice straw stubble with soil, or burned soil made by burning mountain turf), with a width of about 10 cm. Then along the soil fertilizer ring, pile the first layer of soaked straw bundles. When piling, place the curved part of the straw bundles outward and the ear end inward, placing them one by one closely together and pressing them firm so that the outer edge is neat. After the first layer is piled, at a distance of 6 cm from the edge of this layer of straw bundles, scatter a layer of soil fertilizer in the same way, and sow straw mushroom spawn on top of the soil fertilizer ring. Then proceed to stack the second layer of straw bundles, while applying fertilizer at the same time. In the same way, continuously stack 5-6 layers to build the straw pile. For the amount of straw used in the pile, generally in summer 100-150 kg of rice straw per pile is best, and in spring and autumn 150-200 kg per pile is suitable. For every 100 kg of rice straw, 4-6 bottles of straw mushroom spawn are needed.