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PRODUCTION PROCESS
Our possible approach towards establishing a mushroom industry in the country side is the so-called community level
scheme of production. This involves most of the people from all strata in the rural areas, thereby providing in additional
source of income to a greater number of persons.
Recently it has been shown that it is feasible in Philippines to grown spawn mushrooms. On a commercial scale in
shelves placed in special low cost of growing house. Compared with the ordinary open bed method, the percentage of yield conversions
of box-grown mushrooms was improved from 10.5 to 25% based on the weight of the dry straw. There is a greater assurance of
consistent production because pest and disease are more easily controlled under this protected growing condition. The only
possible drawback is the higher initial cost of constructing the growing house and shelves compare with the ordinary open
bed method.
CONSTRUCTION OF GROWING HOUSE
The growing house consist of a concrete floor, set on a gravel base with a layer of hollow blocks set on the floor
with galvanized sheets for roofing area, it consist a series of 10 units of a constructed mushroom house made in a plastic
wall. The mushroom house that made or covered of plastic is required to have convex roofing for a better air circulation.
Air ventilators provided near the upper corner of both the gables. A double door, with a plastic screen for the second entrance
can help to keep insect out. Every one unit of mushroom house of plastic wall will consist of eight shelves. For complete
description of the proposed growing house with its measurement, see the proposed factory location and layout.
MAKING THE SHELVES
The shelves are made of bamboo or wood, running parallel to the length of the house. The wooden frames is 2 meters
in height, each supporting 4 shelves placed on top of the other at 45-50cm distance, the lowest shelf being about 30cm from
the door. The wooden frame is 4 meter in length and 60 in width.
BED MATERIALS
Rice straw is the most commonly used bedding for the mushroom and dried banana leaves can be used as alternatives.
These should be clean and well dried.
PREPARATION OF BED MATERIALS
PROCEDURES
1. Gather long clean and well dried rice straw and banana leaves. Preferably those that are still standing in the field,
avoid using old and contaminated bedding materials.
2. Soak the bed materials in water at least 3 hours but not more than 10 hours, or until the straw becomes dark brown
on the banana leaves exhibit a certain degree of transparency.
3. Set the soak bed materials, closely together and compactly.
4. Water the bed walls with the urea or ammonium sulfate at the rate of 1 to 2 tablespoon per gallon of water. Add sugar
at the rate of 33 grams per gallon of water to improve the yield of mushrooms.
5. Stop watering when the water starts to drip off the bed.
PLANTING THE SPAWN
Young (10-14 days old) spawn are used thumb-sized pieces are removed from the bottle and distributed or inserted
on the surface of bed materials, along the side and 4 inches apart from each other. The spawn are then buried 5cm deep in
the open space resulting from spawn insertion. The same procedure is carried out on the other shelves.
CARE OF THE SHELVES
After spawning the door are closed for the next three to four days. The temperature should then be 34-38 degree celcius
and in no case lower than 30 degree. Relatively humidity should be above 85%. Little aeration should also be provided during
this period by using the ventilating fun to circulate the air. The mushrooms mycelium has colonized the compost its size will
be reduced.
During this time, his temperature is reducing to 28-38 degree by opening the air vents. Water maybe applied to the
growing beds if the surface is dying out.
On the next two days, the light is switch on or the doors are kept open to introduce some light (Light with enable
one to hardly read at bed surface). Meanwhile, the air within the house is kept motionless is order to allow greater accumulation
of carbon dioxide that will hasten mycelia fusion and formation of fruiting bodies. Light should continuously be provided
until a sufficiently large number of fruiting bodies have been formed after which it should be omitted.
HARVESTING
The fruiting bodies are not allowed to open on the beds but picked which still close (egg shaped) when picking with
hands the basal portion of the mushroom should not be left on the compost as this can initiate bacterial disease or rooting
a knife is used only to remove the adhering compost at the vase of the mushroom after harvesting. The second flush is usually
available about 5 days later.
The first crop of mushrooms can usually be harvested 10 to 14 days after planting the spawn. First growth normally
supplies and 65 to 75% of the expected yield is obtained. During the ensuing rest period of three to five days watering of
shelves maybe resumed; proper conditions in the growing room must be carefully maintained.
The second crop also takes 2 to 3 days to harvest, but the yield will be much less, supplying 25 to 35% balance of
the total harvest produce over a period of 18 to 22 days.
It should be noted that a box cultivated mushrooms are less likely to grow in clusters than the spawn planted in
the beds.
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