Fertilization Methods and Cultivation Techniques for Edible Fungi During the Fruiting Period

Application Methods There are usually 3 methods for adding nutrient solution: spraying, soaking and hole irrigation. The best time to spray nutrient solution is when fruiting bodies appear in large numbers. When spraying, make sure the nozzle is not pointed directly at the fruiting bodies, and also observe the "four no-spray" rules: 1. Do not spray on young mushroom buds, so they do not "swell to death." 2. Do not spray on spots where mushrooms have just been harvested or where mushroom remnants remain, to avoid causing bacterial diseases. 3. Do not spray when air humidity is too high. 4. Do not spray when pests and diseases are severe inside the mushroom shed (room).

The soaking method is mainly used for bag-cultivated edible fungi. After harvesting 1 to 2 flushes of mushrooms, if the cultivation bags are in a severely water-deficient state, they can be placed in a prepared nutrient solution to soak until they recover or come close to their original weight.

The hole irrigation method is mainly used on mushroom beds. This method can be used when the bed produces many mushrooms and water and nutrients are consumed excessively. The specific method is: punch holes in the mushroom bed at a spacing of 10 cm, flood the mushroom bed with the prepared nutrient solution, and cover with soil after adding the nutrient solution.

Appropriate Concentration When the nutrient solution concentration is too high, not only is it difficult for the mycelium to absorb, but it can also hinder or even damage the mycelium. When the concentration is too low, the goal of high yield cannot be achieved. If the water content of the culture material is relatively high, the concentration should be increased, and ventilation should be increased after adding the nutrient solution. Conversely, the concentration of the nutrient solution should be reduced and the amount of water used should be increased. Commonly used nutrient solution concentrations are: urea 0.3%-0.5%, potassium dihydrogen phosphate 0.2%, etc. Be sure to grasp the principle of "less but frequent."

Comprehensive Nutrients Several nutrient solutions should often be used alternately, so that the nutrients obtained by the fruiting bodies are both comprehensive and balanced. If hormones are used to stimulate the growth of edible fungi, they should be used only after the nutrient solution has been supplemented.

Environmental Changes When the temperature reaches above 20°C, except for high-temperature-type edible fungus varieties, nutrient solution may not be added. If the culture material has already been contaminated by weed molds, be sure to remove the weed molds first before adding nutrient solution. To prevent weed mold contamination, a certain amount of bacteriostatic agent can also be added while adding the nutrient solution, to prevent weed molds from growing and spreading.