Key Technical Points for Spring Mushroom Management and Notes on Water Supplementation

Spring climate characteristics: temperatures rise quickly, but alternate between cold and warm, and are unstable. Given the unstable spring climate, pay attention to the daily weather forecast and adjust cultivation management measures at any time according to weather changes. Based on these characteristics, management should pay attention to the following points:

1. Temperature management

On clear days, when the outside temperature is relatively high, the temperature inside the shed will be even higher. To keep the temperature inside the shed relatively low so that spring mushrooms grow with good quality, change from raising temperature and retaining moisture in winter to lowering temperature and retaining moisture. Specific measures: on days with strong sunlight, such as from 8-9 am to around 5 pm, cover the shed roof with straw curtains; in the early morning, evening, or at night, roll up the straw curtains, and spray water on the shed floor to lower the temperature. On rainy days or during temperature drops, take insulation measures.

2. Humidity management

For mushroom bags that have produced 2-3 flushes of mushrooms through autumn and winter, the water contained in the bags is heavily consumed and they become noticeably lighter, so water should be supplemented in time. After water injection, the mycelium in the bags absorbs water and resumes growth, releasing heat and raising the bag temperature, which in turn raises the temperature inside the shed. Cooling measures should be taken in time, such as rolling up the curtains at night, to keep the temperature inside the shed relatively low and avoid contamination of the bags by competing microorganisms caused by high temperature inside the shed after water injection. The humidity inside the shed can be regulated by spraying water. On clear days when the shed temperature is high, more water can be sprayed to lower the temperature and retain moisture. At the same time, be careful not to spray water onto the mushroom bodies; after spraying water, ventilation must be carried out, and the humidity inside the shed should be maintained at about 85%.

3. Ventilation management

After harvesting three flushes of mushrooms, the nutrients in the bags are heavily consumed, mushroom production decreases noticeably, and the amount of oxygen required is relatively reduced, so ventilation can be carried out according to appropriate weather conditions and watering conditions.

4. Light management

On clear days, be sure to cover the shed roof covering well at noon to avoid strong light exposure and maintain an appropriate amount of scattered light.

5. Pest and disease control

As the temperature rises, pests begin to grow and reproduce, so preventive measures should be taken in time to avoid pest outbreaks. Clear weeds, garbage, discarded mushroom bags, and so on inside and around the shed; regularly spray fungicides and insecticides inside the shed and around it; microporous nylon mesh should be installed on all vents, doors, and windows to prevent mosquitoes and flies from flying in. Once an outbreak occurs, be cautious when using pesticides; use high-efficiency, low-toxicity pesticides, and spray them toward the mushroom bags after harvesting mushrooms. Never spray directly onto the fruiting bodies.