Cultivation

BUTTON MUSHROOM

The cultivated mushroom is grown on special composts, which are of the following two types, synthetic and natural.

Composting yard

The compost should be prepared on well cleaned concrete or pucca floor, which should be at a higher level so that the run-off water does not collect near the heap.Composting is usually done in the open, but it has to be protected from rain by covering it with polythene sheet. It can also be done in a shed with open sides or a large room to shelter it from rain.

1. Synthetic compost

The following ingredients are required for 15-16 trays of size 100cmx50cmx15cm:-

Wheat straw (chopped 8-20cm long)-250kg, Wheat/rice bran-20kg, Ammonium sulphate/calcium ammonium nitrate-3 kg, Urea-3kg, Gypsum-20kg

The straw is uniformly spread over the compo sting yard in a thin layer and wetted thoroughly by sprinkling water. All ingredients such as wheat bran, fertilizers, etc. except gypsum, are mixed thoroughly in the wetted straw, which is finally heaped into a pile. The pile, 1m high, 1m wide and length adjustable, can be made with hand or stack mould. The straw should be firmly but not compactly compressed into the mould.

It is essential to open the entire pile and remake it a number of times according to the following schedule:

Mixing of material and making pile - 0 day

1st turning - 4th day

2nd turning - 8th day

3rd turning - 12th day, add 10 kg gypsum

4th turning - 16th day, add 10 kg gypsum

Final turning - 20th day,spray 10 ml malathion in 5 litre water (any other available pesticide like DOT, BHC, lindane can also be used)

At each turning water should be sprinkled to make up the loss of water due to evaporation. If it is desired to add molasses, then 10 kg molasses diluted 20 times with water should be poured over the straw mixture during the first turning. Sixty kg chicken manure, if available, can also be added at the time of start of pile.

2. Natural compost

The following ingredients are...