What causes dead mushrooms in straw mushroom cultivation
Straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) is an important tropical and subtropical mushroom and is currently the third largest cultivated edible fungus in the world, and China's straw mushroom output ranks first in the world, with a great many people growing it. However, during cultivation, the phenomenon of dead mushrooms occurs, seriously harming yields and affecting growers' income. So what are the causes of dead mushrooms in straw mushroom cultivation? Let's find out together.
1. The cultivation environment is too acidic
Straw mushroom is different from other fungi: it prefers an alkaline environment. When the substrate is acidic, that is, when the pH value is below 6.5, it will struggle to grow and is easily contaminated by competing microorganisms, leading to dead mushrooms. Therefore, when mixing the substrate, a suitable amount of lime must be added to adjust the pH so that it is alkaline, and after each harvest a lime solution should also be sprayed once.
2. Sudden temperature changes
Straw mushroom is a constant-temperature fruiting type of edible fungus. Its mycelium grows best at temperatures between 30-39°C, stops growing below 15°C or above 42°C, and the fruiting bodies grow best at 28-33°C, while below 20°C or above 45°C they will wither and die. Therefore, pay attention to temperature changes: in low temperatures, take measures such as double-layer film covering to keep warm, and in high temperatures, take measures such as watering and building shade structures to cool down.
3. Unsuitable humidity
Moisture is an important factor affecting the growth of straw mushroom. When water is insufficient, its mycelium grows extremely slowly and the fruiting bodies dry up and die; but when there is too much water, it leads to poor ventilation of the mushroom bed, causing the mushrooms to die or rot. Therefore, humidity must be well controlled. Generally, the water content of the substrate is best at about 70%, during mycelial growth the relative air humidity is best maintained at 80%, and during the fruiting body formation stage the air humidity is best maintained at 90%.
4. Poor ventilation
Straw mushroom is a high-temperature aerobic fungus. Many mushroom growers, in order to raise the temperature of the mushroom shed, extend the covering time, which leads to excessive accumulation of carbon dioxide in the shed, causing the straw mushrooms to suffocate and die. However, the ventilation volume should not be too large either, as it causes water to dissipate quickly, which is also unfavorable to the growth and development of straw mushroom. Therefore, 3-4 days after sowing, ventilate for about 30 minutes at around 10 a.m. every day, and gradually extend the ventilation time as the mycelium grows.
The above is an introduction to the causes of dead mushrooms in straw mushroom cultivation. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.