How to Cultivate Button Mushrooms at Home ?
Introduction of Mushroom:
Mushroom cultivation is the process of growing mushrooms with the help of suitable substrates and conditions, to harvest them for consumption or further processing. Cultivation of mycelium is common among mushroom-growing enthusiasts, and is often considered more cost-effective, as it requires less specialized materials than growing in logs. The spores or culture kit is mixed with the growing medium. The growth medium is composed of a substrate, a source of water, and an environment to keep the humidity up. The substrate is composed of ground, sterilized agricultural products, such as straw or sawdust, often supplemented with horse or cow manure. The water, usually from a natural source, is sprayed on the compost to keep the humidity high and promote growth.
Also Read : Methods of preservation of mushroom
Preparation of Compost for Button Mushroom :
1. Long method of composting
2.Short method of composting
1. Long method of composting
Formula developed by Mushroom
Research Laboratory, Solan
Wheat straw 1,000 Kg or
Paddy straw 1,250 Kg
CAN 30 Kg
Super phosphate 25 Kg
Urea 12 Kg
Muriate of Potash 10 Kg
Wheat bran 100 Kg
Molasses 16.6 litres
Gypsum 100 Kg
Folidol dust 750 g
B) Formula developed
by IIHR, Bangalore
Paddy straw 150 Kg
Maize stalks 150 Kg
Ammonium sulphate 9 Kg
Super phosphate 9 Kg
Urea 4 Kg
Rice bran 50 Kg
Cotton seed meal 15 Kg
Gypsum 12 Kg
Calcium carbonate 10 Kg
Who developed long method of composting first time ?
Long method of composting was first developed by Mantel et al. (1972).
To begin the composting process, clean your composting yard thoroughly and wash it with 2% formalin solution. Spread wheat straw or other base materials you have to be used in a thin layer of 8-10 inches thickness over the floor of your composting yard. Sprinkle water over tow repeatedly at least 2-3 times a day for 2 days with the help of forks.
Mix the following ingredients together thoroughly before use: urea, CAN, super phosphate, wheat bran etc. (except insecticides and gypsum),the dry mixture of these ingredients are wetted with water then covered with damp gunny bags 14-16 hours before use.
Also Read : SPAWN PRODUCTION OF MUSHROOMS
Preparation:
Day 0: On this day, we spread the fertilizer/prepare manure evenly over the straw. This is done using wooden boards called planks. Our piles should be 5x5x and must not exceed more than 3 meters in height (in order to help maintain an optimal temperature) and 2 meters in width (in order to allow for aeration from below).
Day 1-5 Launch watching the temperature of the pile. Temperature should start rising after 24-48 hours of heaping and reach 65-70 °C in central core.However, than water can be sprinkled, If the humidity of the mixture is less. Watering should be stopped as soon as leaching dawns from the bottom of pile. If water starts leaching in large volume also it should be collected in a guddy cavity and put on the top of the pile.
Day 6 : First turning On this day first turning is given to the pile. The goal of turning is that every portion of the pile gets equal aeration and water for proper breakdown of the base material. The correct system of turning is as follows. To produce compost, start by removing approximately a foot of compost from the top and sides of pile. Shake thoroughly so that excess ammonia is released and it is exposed to the air properly, if water is required then add.
Day- 10: 2nd turning
Day-13: 3rd turning:- gypsum is added
Day-16: 4th turning
Day-19: 5th turning
Day-22: 6th turning
Day-25: 7th turning - Folidol dust is added
Day 28: Filling day. smell of ammonia is still then we will leave for nest 23 days ,compost is prepared by long method in 28-30 days.
2. Short or Pasteurization Method of Composting :
Formula given by Mushroom Research Laboratory , Solan
Wheat straw ( chopped ) - 1000 Kg
Chicken manure -400 Kg
Brewer’s grain or wheat bran -- 72 Kg
Urea --14.5 Kg
Gypsum -- 30 Kg.
Phase- I is done in the composting yard while phase II, inside a closed chamber called pasteurization chamber with the help of aerated steam for pasteurization and conditioning of compost.
Phase I All things happen
as in long method. But in this case turning is given after every 48 hours (2nd
day). On 6th day total amount of gypsum is added in the compost. After 4th
turning on 8th day, the compost is filled in pasteurization tunnel on 10th day.
Phase One of Composting – First Turning of the Pile (Mixing Urea and Pile being formed with the help of a Pile Former) -- Then with the introduction of steam, temperature is raised to 58-60°C for 6 hours. Phase Two: ( Pasteurization ) -- With partially decomposed compost in pasteurization chamber or tunnel, a temperature of 48-50"C" is maintained for next 2-3 days by circulating the inside air.
Now fresh air is allowed to enter the room from time to time so as to bring down the temperature in that very hot room to around fifty to fifty-five degrees. This process of raising and lowering the temp goes on for about 3 - 4 days until the ammonia smell is gone on its own. Then, once more fresh air is allowed into this room after which it cools down a bit more so that the compost can only be maintained at about twenty five to twenty eight degrees Celsius. This pasteurization method takes only about 18 to 20 nights altogether.
Qualities of a good Compost for button mushroom :
· It must be dark brown in color
· It should have humidity of about 68-70 percent.
· PH of should be in the range of7.2-7.8.
· Shouldn't be any smell of ammonia.
· Shouldn't be sticky.
· Should be separate from insects and nematodes.
Also Read : Methods of preservation of mushroom
Certain Advantage of short method composting over long method of composting :
More compost per unit weight of ingredients is produced .
· Total period of composting is reduced
· The yield is almost doubled
· All the harmful fungi, competitor molds, insects, nematodes and other
pathogens get killed during pasteurization which otherwise cause reduction in
yield
· Most part of Ammonia liberated is converted into microbial protein which
otherwise go waste in long method of composting.
· Conditions inside a pasteurization chamber favor proper temperature and
aeration resulting in the preparation of good quality compost free from all
types of harmful microorganisms .
Filling of compost :
Compost is placed in wooden trays, shelves or otherwise plastic bags.
Compressed compost increases yield. The dry weight of compost per square foot
(sq ft) of cropping surface largely determines total yield. It's important that
your bag be slightly compressed during summer to create heat out of the
metabolism of the growing mycelium, but during winter season [times|seasons]
it's important to press out extra air from the bag.
The nutrients from the farthest point of the compost bed are transported to
the growing mycelium of mushrooms. Make sure that you fill your trays about 6-8
inches deep with soil for mushrooms, stack them closely and cover their upper
end with either plastic or newspaper in order to get ideal temperatures (25
degrees Celsius) which will be managed easily as well.
Spawn Running :
The temperature of your mushroom farm should be maintained between 22-25°C.
This can be maintained by frequently spraying water on the walls of the
mushroom area, especially during spawn running. Fresh air is not required in a
mushroom farm, thus the room should stay closed to create darkness. Higher CO2
concentration than what's normal in air will encourage rapid growth in your
mycelium.
Also Read : SPAWN PRODUCTION OF MUSHROOMS
If you have favorable environmental conditions, the compost should be ready
within 14-15 days of spawning. White mycelia, also called spawn, will cover the
surface of the compost under favorable conditions.If temperature is below
optimum these conditions can cause spawn run to take up to 22 days while a
higher temperature will slow growth.
What's casing?
Covering the top of mushroom beds after completion of spawn run with a layer of suitable soil admixture is known as casing. Mushroom cultivators in different countries use different types of casing materials depending upon their attainability.
Harvesting of button mushroom :
Button mushroom harvesting is a delicate process. The farmer must take
precautions to prepare the soil prior to planting and planting actual mushrooms
as this process can be very successful if done well. There is also a particular
time of day when the process should be done, as these mushrooms should be
harvested before their little `buttons’ fall off. In order to pick them without
destroying them, it might seem logical that you are supposed to cut the stem
while they are still on the plant itself but what most farmers opt to do
instead is just picking the whole thing right up by holding onto the base of
its stem and lifting it off carefully so as not to disturb any adjacent button
mushrooms. After having gathered all that you need, trim each button with a
short bladed knife with care taken not to cut into any of your fingers in doing
so.