Mushroom cultivation demonstration
There’s around 2000 species of mushroom where 20 species are edible and 5-6 species are only cultivated in larger scale.
Mushrooms contain protein, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that support the body in removing free radicals. Selenium, vitamin C, and choline are some antioxidant components in mushrooms.
The mushroom cultivation encourages the development of new food products and gives chances of employment for the people involved in the new industries/ commercial units. The some of the new food products developed using the mushroom are canned mushrooms, Mushroom soup powder, papads, noodles and pickles etc.
It requires a perfect procedure to cultivate healthy disease free produce.
Procedure
*Any biodegradable wastes can be used for the cultivation of mushroom, preferably paddy straw, ragi straw. Research says that paddy straw yields higher than the other substrates.
*Collect paddy straw and cut into 2 inches pieces.
*soak the straw in water for about 2-3 hrs orelse overnight so that the straw gets softened and helps in better growth of the mushroom mycellia.
*Drain water from the vessel.
* Sterilize the straw in autoclave or in cooker under high pressure for 2hrs to kill the microbes.
*The straw is then cooled to room temperature after discarding the water.
*Dry the straw in shade so that the moisture in straw is retained but doesn’t drop when held in hand.
*Collect the spawn from certified lab.50 g of spawn is enough for a bag.
*Lay a later of straw in the bottom of 1lg polyethene bag if about 1-2 inch and spread the spawn in the circumference. Neither too edge not too much to centre.
*Lay another layer of straw over it and alternate layer of spawn and straw has to be laid of 4-5 is done and at last 2 inch straw is laid and tied tightly with a band or thread.
*Make holes to the cover with a pin to ensure the exchange of gases.
*Keep the cover in darkness or diffused light to avoid the direct sunlight with dessicates the spawn which is sensitive to sunlight.
*After 20 days the mycellial growth can be seen and the cover is torn carefully with a blade without harming the mycellia.
*The set up is kept as it is and is sprayed with water twice or thrice a day.
*The diseased ones are to be discarded.
*The healthy ones are to be maintained well.
*Thee sprouted mushroom are later harvested after they are fully grown and three harvests can be expected from healthy bag with 3 days of interval.
*From each bag around 700-800g of mushroom can be harvested in three instalments.
*Thus 50 g spawn yields about 700-800g of mushroom.
Other benefits
*Not only it has nutritional benefits but also provides a great employment opportunity.
*Women can take up the cultivation s it needs little care in management if the procedure is followed perfectly.
*Wastes can be managed easily.
*Availability of wastes or straw is easy.
*With the least inputs higher income can be earned.