Cover

Cover moisture and fruiting parameters.

The decisive and most important moment for obtaining an excellent yield is the period of initial fruiting, which precedes the harvesting period. Many mushroom growers underestimate this stage for one reason or another. The formation of a normal first wave of fruiting depends on four factors:

1. Moisture in the cover

2. Relative air humidity

3. Air and compost temperature in the mushroom garden

4. Clean air with a CO2 content below 0.1%.

The first and second waves should give 70-75% of the total yield. With an initial wrong strategy and a weak first wave, the losses cannot be compensated for with the following waves - the mycelium has already consumed nutrients inefficiently, it ages over time, and competitive microflora develops in parallel in the compost - all these troubles are irreversible and the end result is a reduced final yield.

Moisture of the cover and morphology of mycelium growth.

The initial moisture of the cover has a direct effect on the development of the mycelium in the cover. The characteristics of the mycelium are determined solely by moisture.

1. At optimal moisture 70-75%, pH – 7.0 – 7.5 - good moisture-retaining structure and a good degree of sterility of the cover, the mycelium grows with fine hyphae, necessarily branched with a tendency to slightly form thin threads.

2. In a dry cover, the mycelium is characterized by the absence of rhizomorphism. When the mycelium grows in the form of cotton - very fine, capillary mycelium - the term is defined as the absence of rhizomorphism, that is, mycelium and infertility. This fine mycelium can quickly cover the entire cover, after which it begins to harden. (this phenomenon is described by Rancheva as well as possible actions - so we will not explain it further) - perforation and rapid wetting in extreme cases and repeated ruffling. - drastically affects the yield.

3. In wet cover, the mycelium grows coarse and filamentous with very few branches and weak capillarity (The mycelium is rhizomorphic but access to nutrients is limited). The mycelium grows slower than normal and sparsely scattered there are areas of the uncovered cover. Often, the wet cover seeps into the substrate and forms wet wedges that inhibit future growth of the mycelium and are a potential infection of the bag. When the cover dries out, it can eventually reactivate, drastically affecting the yield.

4. Thickness of the cover and its influence - the normal cover should be 4.5-5.5 cm. The cover should be of uniform thickness.

5. With a thinner cover, smaller mushrooms are obtained - the yield is lower, some of the mushrooms do not grow and die.

6. With a thicker than normal, fewer and larger mushrooms - the yield is lower.

7. When laying the mulch, it should never be tamped - it disrupts air-gas exchange.

8. The pH of the mulch should be 7-7.5, always check it especially when using peat - it has below 7 and its buffering is essential.

9. Air moisture capacity - if you use new additives and mulch materials - be sure to study them. These parameters as well as the tendency to form a surface crust - which is undesirable.

10. As the most popular term - returning or crossing the mycelium: this is a procedure for the formation of fruiting bodies. This globally affects the future and final yield from a unit of compost.

The combination of factors:

- relative air humidity

- air and compost temperature in the mushroom garden

- clean air to maintain CO2 below 0.1%.

- Additional watering combined with weeding are absolutely important and critical parameters - most producers do not have the measuring instruments and capabilities to control all these parameters, in their effort to grow in the different seasons of autumn and spring, they often do not comply with them.