The correct method of topdressing in edible mushroom cultivation
Topdressing techniques for edible mushroom cultivation
In the late stage of mushroom fruiting, in order to strengthen the subsequent fruiting capacity, mushroom growers often use various means to add nutrient solutions for topdressing. So how do you topdress edible mushrooms? Below, let me introduce the topdressing techniques for edible mushrooms.
How to topdress edible mushrooms
1. Choose a suitable application method. There are usually 3 methods for adding nutrient solutions to edible mushrooms: spraying, soaking and hole irrigation. The time for spraying the nutrient solution is best when the fruiting bodies appear in large numbers. When spraying, note that the nozzle should not be pointed directly at the fruiting bodies, and also note the four no-spray situations: do not spray on small young mushroom buds, so as to avoid swelling them to death; do not spray on places where mushrooms have just been harvested or where mushroom remnants remain, so as to avoid causing bacterial diseases; do not spray when the air humidity is too high; do not spray when pests and diseases are severe inside the mushroom shed (room). The soaking method is mainly used for bag-cultivated edible mushrooms.
After edible mushrooms have been harvested for 1-2 flushes, if the cultivation bags are in a state of severe water shortage, they can be placed in a prepared nutrient solution to soak until they recover to close to their original weight. When using the soaking method to add nutrient solution, generally the fungus bags are placed into a nutrient solution tank and weighted down with heavy objects. Also, the soaking time must not be too long. If the fungus bags have lost too much water, they can be soaked several times in separate batches. The hole irrigation method is mainly used on mushroom beds, and this method can be adopted when the mushroom bed produces many mushrooms and the consumption of water and nutrients is too great. The specific method is: punch holes in the mushroom bed at a hole spacing of 10 cm, flood the mushroom bed with the prepared nutrient solution, and cover with soil after adding the nutrient solution.
2. The concentration must be appropriate. When the concentration of the nutrient solution is too high, not only is it difficult for the mycelium to absorb, but it will also hinder and even damage the growth of the mycelium; when the concentration is too low, the goal of high yield cannot be achieved. When adding nutrient solution to edible mushrooms at a suitable concentration, it should be determined according to the water content of the culture material: if the water content of the culture material is relatively high, the concentration of the nutrient solution should be increased, the amount of water used should be reduced, and the ventilation should be increased after addition; conversely, the concentration of the nutrient solution should be reduced and the amount of water used should be increased.
3. The nutrients in the nutrient solution must be comprehensive. Several kinds of nutrient solutions should often be used alternately for edible mushrooms, so that the nutrients required for the growth of the fruiting bodies are both comprehensive and reasonable. If hormones are used to stimulate the growth of edible mushrooms, they should be used after supplementing the nutrient solution.
4. Pay attention to changes in the environment. When the temperature reaches above 20°C, it is difficult for the mycelium of edible mushrooms to form high-quality fruiting bodies, and except for high-temperature-type edible mushroom varieties, no nutrient solution may be added. If the culture material has already been contaminated by competing bacteria, be sure to remove the competing bacteria first before adding the nutrient solution. In order to prevent contamination by competing bacteria, a certain amount of bacteriostatic agent may also be added while adding the nutrient solution, so as to prevent the breeding and spreading of competing bacteria.