Key Technical Points for High-Yield Cultivation of Edible Mushrooms in Greenhouses
High-yield cultivation of edible mushrooms in plastic greenhouses is basically the same as conventional edible mushroom cultivation techniques. We take the typical low-temperature variety shiitake (Lentinula edodes), the typical high-temperature variety purple wood ear (Auricularia sp.), and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), which represents most NT intermediate-temperature varieties, as examples, and briefly introduce comprehensive high-yield greenhouse cultivation techniques using the plastic bag cultivation method.
1. High-Yield Cultivation Techniques for Shiitake in Greenhouses
1.1 Cultivation preparation work. From inoculation to fruiting takes about 90 to 120 days, and the entire growth period is about 300 to 330 days. Generally, in the high-temperature seasons of summer and autumn, cultivation bags (specification 17 cm x 34 cm, round) of spawn blocks are prepared indoors under cooling conditions, and fruiting occurs in late autumn and early winter. The mycelial growth temperature range of shiitake is 3 to 32 degrees C, with the optimum temperature being 10 to 28 degrees C; the fruiting body growth temperature is 5 to 25 degrees C, with the optimum temperature being 12 to 17 degrees C. The cultivation method is bed-frame style. In one greenhouse, 6 rows of cultivation beds 65 cm wide are arranged, the main walkway is 50 cm wide, and other walkways are 35 cm wide. The middle bed frames are divided into upper and middle 2 layers, and including the ground there are 3 layers in a three-dimensional arrangement. The bed frames on both sides have one layer of bed surface, and including the ground there are 2 layers. The two rows of beds closest to the two sides of the greenhouse have no bed frames, and only one layer is cultivated on the ground E. The spacing between every 2 bed surfaces is 50 to 60 cm, and the bed edge height is 20 cm. The edges of ground beds can be made by arranging red bricks in an arched upright manner. The entire greenhouse ground is leveled with red bricks, or the surface is leveled and then shiitake is planted. The cultivation method can be divided into two types: solid stock spawn cultivation or cultivation after preparing liquid spawn. The main measures are: slant mother culture - stock spawn (shaken flask spawn) - (liquid cultivation spawn) - cultivation bag spawn - bag removal and arrangement - spawn block recovery growth and color-turning culture - fruiting management - harvesting. Before arranging the spawn, first lay plastic film on the bed surface, laying one side first, then remove the spawn from the bags and place them evenly in rows on the bed surface. After finishing one bed surface, cover the other side of the plastic film over the spawn blocks; it does not need to be covered tightly or sealed tightly, so as to facilitate ventilation. After that, carefully manage cultivation, waiting for color turning and fruiting, and only after harvest is the bed film replaced.
1.2 Color-turning and fruiting management. Before fruiting, the mycelium undergoes a physiological change of color turning. During this period, the greenhouse temperature should be kept between 20 and 23 degrees C, and the plastic film should be lifted for ventilation and heat preservation. It is necessary to prevent rapid mycelial growth caused by high temperature and high humidity, which forms a thick mycelial skin and affects yield and quality. If conditions are suitable, it takes about 10 days from bag removal to color turning. After color turning, the spawn blocks change from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, and this period is called the fruiting period. (1) Autumn-winter mushrooms (October to December): because the greenhouse temperature is too high, the film must often be lifted to lower the temperature, keeping the greenhouse temperature between 10 and 15 degrees C for a long time. After each harvest, the bed film must be lifted briefly for ventilation to promote development. (2) Winter mushrooms (January to February): at this time the temperature is low and mycelial growth is slow, so on sunny days it is suitable to spray water on the ground to maintain moisture, usually focusing on heat preservation. (3) Spring mushrooms (March to June): first, soak the spawn blocks, with a water content of 60 percent being sufficient. Second, control the greenhouse temperature, maintaining a day-night temperature difference from 20 to 25 degrees C to 10 to 15 degrees C, that is, a temperature difference of 10 degrees C. Later, as the temperature rises, the film can be lifted appropriately to lower the temperature.
2. Key Technical Points for Purple Wood Ear Cultivation
2.1 Development conditions. Purple wood ear adapts widely; the mycelium can grow normally between 5 and 39 degrees C, and the fruiting body between 0 and 42 degrees C. Purple wood ear likes high temperature and high humidity, and does not have strict oxygen requirements; it can still grow normally in an oxygen-deficient environment. Its mycelial culture is best carried out in darkness, because under relatively strong scattered light it matures prematurely, affecting yield. The fruiting body, however, can grow vigorously under high temperature, high humidity and strong direct light, with large and thick ear pieces, purple-red to purple-brown in color, and excellent quality, so it can be cultivated in all four seasons.
2.2 There are three cultivation methods, all using 17 cm x 34 cm tube film material, inoculated at both ends, and then cultivated.
2.2.1 Bed-frame style. The bed frame setup is the same as for shiitake. Then tie both ends of the spawn bags tightly with rope, cut 4 to 5 longitudinal slits on the bag surface with a blade, and they can be arranged (the same below); generally they are placed horizontally on the bed frame, and after the row is full, plastic film must be covered.
2.2.2 Hanging style. Rows of wooden stakes are set up in the greenhouse, and the spawn bags are hung on the wooden stakes, with the spacing determined as needed, as long as walkways are left for management. The spawn bags are hung one by one from ground level to the top of the stakes, with a bag spacing of 5 cm. At the lower part of the stakes, they can be placed horizontally on the ground. After that, every 3 to 5 rows of stakes can be fully covered with a whole piece of plastic film.
2.2.3 Sand bed style. Several rectangular shallow bed pits that do not leak water are set up inside, covered with river sand 5 to 10 cm thick. This method is most suitable for high-temperature and drought conditions. Before arrangement, fill the sand layer with enough water, then arrange the spawn bags. Above the bed surface, a wooden frame of a certain height can also be set up, and wooden stakes can be used to hang spawn bags to increase yield. After arranging and hanging, cover completely with a whole large piece of film.
2.3 Four-season management
2.3.1 Spring. First, culture the spawn bags indoors with heating in winter, and arrange them for fruiting in early spring. The greenhouse temperature is controlled at 5 to 30 degrees C during the day and above 5 to 10 degrees C at night. On sunny days, spray water inside the greenhouse; although this lowers the greenhouse temperature, it will not drop too low, and the water and water vapor will absorb and store heat, releasing it at night to raise the greenhouse temperature. This is beneficial for extending the time the greenhouse temperature is above 15 degrees C and promoting the growth of purple wood ear.
2.3.2 Summer. The temperature rises from low to high, which is favorable for cultivating heat-tolerant purple wood ear. The main tasks are cooling and maintaining moisture. First, remove the greenhouse film and add two layers of shade netting. Second, spray water to maintain moisture, which can lower the greenhouse temperature by 4 to 8 degrees C and promote growth.
2.3.3 Autumn. This is the golden season for cultivating purple wood ear. In early autumn, cooling and moisture maintenance are still needed; in late autumn, the greenhouse film must be covered for heat preservation; when the temperature is high, the film must again be lifted to lower the temperature, so as to obtain high and stable yields.
2.3.4 Winter. Use the natural temperature of autumn to culture the spawn bags, and arrange them in early winter. On sunny days, the film can be lifted appropriately to lower the temperature; on windy and rainy days, the film must be covered to preserve heat. In late winter, when the temperature is relatively low, heating management can be strengthened, trying to extend the time above 15 degrees C to promote growth.
3. Key Technical Points for Oyster Mushroom Cultivation
3.1 Development conditions. Oyster mushroom varieties include high-, medium- and low-temperature types and wide-temperature types. The mycelial growth temperature is 5 to 36 degrees C, the fruiting body is 5 to 30 degrees C, generally 8 to 18 degrees C, and the best spawn-making period is from September to April to May of the following year. Oyster mushroom is moisture-tolerant; during cultivation, water can be sprayed directly on the spawn bags and mushroom bodies. During fruiting body development, sufficient oxygen is needed, so during cultivation the front and back doors should often be opened and the greenhouse film lifted, and the skirt film lowered for ventilation and oxygen supply.
3.2 There are 3 cultivation methods, all using 22 cm x 44 cm spawn bags, inoculated at both ends, for fruiting.
3.2.1 Bed-frame style. The bed frame setup is the same as for shiitake. Arrange the spawn bags with a spacing of no less than 5 cm, placing only one layer; both ends and broken slits can all produce mushrooms.
3.2.2 Wall style. On the bed frame, stack the spawn bags like building a wall into a wall style. One bed surface can be stacked into two bag walls, with length the same as the bed and height about the diameter of 3 spawn bags, in a vertical structure, and mushrooms can only emerge from both ends.
3.2.3 Ground style. No bed frame is used; the spawn bags are directly stacked into a wall style in the greenhouse, with length the same as the greenhouse and height as high as possible without collapsing, higher in the middle and lower on both sides, similar to the greenhouse.
3.3 Four-season management
3.3.1 Autumn (October to December). Select medium-temperature and wide-temperature varieties, and begin spawn block arrangement and fruiting management in early October. The main management measures are cooling and ventilation - moisture maintenance, and the greenhouse temperature must be kept between 8 and 18 degrees C.
3.3.2 Winter (January to February). Select low-temperature and wide-temperature varieties. The main management measures are heat preservation, ventilation and moisture maintenance, extending as much as possible during the day the time the greenhouse temperature is 8 to 18 degrees C.
3.3.3 Spring (March to June). Select medium- and high-temperature varieties. In the early stage, the main measures are heat preservation, ventilation and heat preservation; in the later stage, the main measures are cooling, ventilation and heat preservation.
3.3.4 Summer (July to September). Select high-temperature varieties. Remove the greenhouse film and add shade netting. The main management measure is cooling, bringing the greenhouse temperature below 28 degrees C, while strengthening water management, frequently spraying water to cool and maintain moisture, so as to promote high yield. (Source: China Three Rural Network)