Mushroom Production: Read every important information related to mushroom production, from making fertilizer to training

Mushroom Production: Mushroom production has been going on all over the world for many years and there is a lot of demand for it, but in India, mushroom production has started for the last 3 decades and its demand is gradually increasing. Earlier it was limited to big hotels in the city, that is, mushroom dishes were made there, then it reached people’s homes and now the demand for mushrooms has started increasing in the villages as well.

Actually, mushroom is very nutritious and hence now people are consuming more mushrooms to fulfill their health and nutritional needs. In such a situation, the demand for mushrooms will certainly increase further in the coming time. What things are important to know for mushroom production and which of its varieties are popular in our country? Let’s know.

What is a mushroom?

Mushroom is a type of fungus, which is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It may not be a fruit or a vegetable, but its vegetable is very tasty and people eat it very fondly. Nowadays, there is a lot of demand for it in urban and rural areas as well. Therefore, farmers are getting motivated to cultivate it. The biggest advantage of mushroom cultivation is that it does not even require soil, rather it is grown in large plastic bags using compost manure, paddy and wheat straw.

Mushroom varieties

Although there are many varieties of mushrooms, but in India 5 varieties of mushrooms are grown commercially.

White button mushroom – Button mushroom is cultivated the most in India. It is cultivated in places with low temperature, but nowadays, thanks to new technology, it can be cultivated anywhere in closed rooms. A temperature of 22-26 degrees Celsius is required for the spread of the fungal network of button mushroom. At this temperature, the fungal network spreads very fast. Later, the temperature of 14-18 degree Celsius is suitable for it. It can be easily grown in an airy room, shed, hut or cottage.

Dhingri (Oyster) Mushroom – This mushroom can be grown throughout the year, a temperature of 20-30 degree centigrade is suitable for it. Wheat and paddy straw and grains are used to grow oyster mushroom. This mushroom is ready in 2.5 to 3 months. Different species of this mushroom require different temperatures, so this mushroom can be grown throughout the year.

Milky Mushroom –

Milky mushroom is known as summer mushroom in India, its size is big. It is a tropical mushroom like Padistra mushroom. Cultivation of this mushroom started in West Bengal in 1976. Now it is grown in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The season from March to October is considered suitable for the cultivation of milky mushroom.

Paddystraw Mushroom- Paddystraw Mushroom Paddystraw mushroom is also known as ‘hot mushroom’ because it grows in high temperature. It has excellent taste and aroma and contains high amount of protein, vitamins and mineral salts. Therefore, it is as popular as white button mushroom. It is grown in Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh etc. It grows well in 28-35 degree Celsius temperature.

Shitake Mushroom- It is an excellent medicinal mushroom. It can be grown for commercial and domestic use. It comes second in terms of total mushroom production in the world. Shiitake mushroom has excellent taste and texture as compared to white button mushroom. It is rich in high quality protein and vitamins (especially vitamin B). It does not contain fat and sugar, so it is considered very good for diabetes and heart patients.

Preparation of compost manure for mushrooms

For good production of mushrooms, it is very important to have good compost. Three things are required to grow mushrooms – compost, spawn (mushroom seeds) and casing mixture. Mushrooms are grown on compost, so it should be of good quality. There are two methods of making compost, one long and the other short.

Short method in mushroom production

In both the methods of making compost, the manure mixture is left to rot on the floor outside, the short method i.e. the method of making compost quickly is usually used on large farms. In this, after about ten days, the manure mixture is filled in a special type of room, which is known as sterilization chamber or tunnel. The floor of the sterilization chamber is made of mesh, air is blown from below by a blower (fan) which passes through the entire compost and goes upwards. Similarly, air is continuously rotated in the compost by a blower for 6-7 days. The production capacity of this compost is almost double that of the compost made in the long term. However, small farmers do not have the facility of chambers, so they use the long method to make compost. 

Long process of making compost

Fresh straw which is not soaked in rain should be used for making compost. Mustard straw can also be used in place of paddy straw or wheat straw, but poultry manure should be used with mustard straw. To make a larger quantity of compost, increase the proportion of all the ingredients. If Kisan Manure (Calcium Ammonium Nitrate) is not available, then the amount of urea can be increased according to the ratio. But the amount of nitrogen in fresh or raw compost should be about 1.6-1.7 percent. Mushroom compost is ready in 28 days scientifically.

First of all, the straw is kept on a cemented floor or in a clean place for 2 days by wetting it with water. Then the following method is followed-

0-Day- Wet straw is spread one feet thick. In this, chemical fertilizers like 6 kg Kisan Manure, 2.4 kg Urea, 3 kg. Mix grass super phosphate, 3 kg potash and 15 kg wheat bran thoroughly. After this, make a heap of 5 feet high, 5 feet wide and convenient length. 24 hours after making the heap, the temperature inside the heap will start increasing and it reaches 70-75 degrees Celsius.

Sixth day (first turning)-

The outer part of the heap dries up due to being open, due to which the manure does not rot properly. The manure is turned to bring it to the right temperature. At this time, after adding 3 kg Kisan Manure, 1.2 kg urea and 15 kg bran, make the heap again like day 0.

Tenth day (second turning)- Take out one feet of manure from outside the heap. Sprinkle water on it and put it in the middle of the heap while turning it. At the time of this turning, mix 5 kg molasses in 10 liters of water in the manure and mix it with all the manure before making the heap.

Thirteenth day (third turning)- The third turning should be done in the same manner as the second turning. Sprinkle light water on the dry outer part. Add 30 kg gypsum to the manure.

Sixteenth day (fourth turning)- Turn the heap and make it as before. Maintain moisture in the manure.

Nineteen to 25 days-

On the 19th, 22nd and 25th day, the heap of manure should be turned and made into a heap again.

Twenty-eighth day- Test the manure for ammonia and moisture. There is no smell of ammonia gas in the manure. If the amount of water is appropriate, then the manure is ready for sowing. Open the heap of manure before sowing, so that the manure cools down. If ammonia gas is left in the manure, then turning should be done every third day. If there is excess water, then aerate the manure.

Spawning of Mushrooms

After placing a polythene sheet on the slabs or beds in the shed/hut prepared for mushroom production, spread a 6-8 inch thick layer of compost manure, after which mix the mushroom seeds/spawn on top. For sowing 100 kg of compost manure, 500-750 grams of seeds are required. After sowing the spawn, it should be covered with a polythene sheet.

Casing mixture in mushrooms

Any substance that absorbs water quickly and releases it slowly and is friable is considered suitable for casing. According to experts, good quality casing is obtained by preparing rice husk ash (boiler ash) and pond soil in a 1:1 weight ratio. To sterilize the casing mixture, add 2-3 percent formalin solution and cover it with a polythene sheet for 3-4 days. The polythene sheet should be removed from the casing mixture and it should be turned over so that the smell of formalin comes out. When the fungal network of the spawn is fully established on the compost, a 1.0-1.5 inch thick layer of casing is spread over it. Casing helps in the vegetative growth of mushrooms. After casing, the compost remains moist in adequate quantity. In case of not doing casing, the mushrooms come out in very less quantity, due to which the growers suffer losses.

Fruiting and harvesting in mushroom cultivation

After 12-15 days of applying the casing layer, small buds of mushrooms start appearing on the compost compost, which develop in 4-5 days and turn into small white button mushrooms. When the size of these white button mushrooms becomes 4-5 centimeters, they should be twisted a little and plucked. After harvesting, white button mushrooms should be used soon because they start getting spoiled very soon. About 5 kg of button mushrooms can be obtained from compost manure made from 10 kg of dry straw.

Training is necessary in mushroom cultivation

To earn good profits from mushroom cultivation, it is necessary that you start this work only after taking training. The government is also running many schemes to promote mushroom production. For training in mushroom cultivation, farmers can take training at their nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra or Agricultural University. Not only this, online training on mushroom cultivation is also being given by ICAR-Mushroom Research Directorate, full information of which you can see by visiting this link dmrsolan.icar.gov.in.

Income from mushroom cultivation

The cost of mushroom production is low, because the straw used for it is available cheap. By producing mushrooms in just one room in a year, you can easily earn 3 to 4 lakh rupees. Whereas the cost on this will be 50 to 60 thousand rupees. Profit will be more if produced on a large scale. Mushrooms are sold in the market at the rate of 150 to 300 rupees per kg. Its price is decided according to its variety and quality.