Long method of compost making for button mushroom
What is compost for button mushroom?
It is a decayed organic material which is used as a media for growing mushroom.
Why is it necessary?
Composting is necessary for the following reasons:
Reason 01:
- Straw becomes soft.
- The weight of wet straw is 550-600 kg/m^3.
Reason 02:
- It acts as the source of nutrients which is important for the growth of mushroom.
- Released ammonia frees polysaccharides from lignin.
Reason 03:
- Composting stage one: Bacteria use available nutrients.
- Stage two: Growth of microorganisms is restricted due high temperature.
Reason 04:
- It provides an ideal environment for the growth of beneficial microorganisms.
- The beneficial microorganisms directly support the growth and development of mushroom fungus.
Reason 05:
- Good water holding capacity.
Reason 06:
- This process converts N into its carbonic stage.
- Availability of ammonium ions instead of free ammonia.
- Free ammonia has toxic effect on A. bisporus.
- There is no toxic effect due to ammonium ions.
| Contents |
|---|
| (1). How to prepare compost for button mushroom? |
| (2). Preparation of compost by long method |
| (3). What are the qualities of a good compost? |
Also read: Paddy straw mushroom cultivation, method and procedure
(I). How to prepare compost for button mushroom?
We will know about the Long method of compost making for button mushroom. In the second part of this article, we will see the short or pasteurization method of compost preparation.
(II). Procedure of preparation of compost
(1). Materials and method
1.1: Required materials
Combination A:
- Small pieces of wheat straw: Its maximum length should be 10-15 cm. Quantity is 250 kg.
- Or, small pieces of paddy straw Its maximum length should be same as in wheat straw. Quantity is also same.
- 20-25 kg husk of wheat or paddy.
- 4 kg of ammonium sulphate or calcium ammonium nitrate.
- 3 kg of urea.
- 4 kg of MOP or muriate of potash.
- 20 kg of gypsum.
- 40 kg of melatonin.
Combination B:
- 250 kg of wheat straw.
- Or, 400 kg of wheat straw.
- 9 kg of ammonium sulphate or calcium ammonium nitrate.
- 4 kg of urea.
- 9 kg of super phosphate.
- 30 kg of wheat husk.
- 12 kg of gypsum.
- 10 kg of calcium carbonate.
*Note: Apply 6 kg of cotton seeds, if you are using paddy straw.
Combination C:
- 300 kg of wheat straw.
- 25 kg of wheat husk.
- 9 kg of ammonium sulphate or calcium ammonium nitrate.
- 3 kg of super phosphate.
- 4 kg of urea.
- 3 kg of muriate of potash or sulphate of potash.
- 5 kg of molasses.
- 30 kg of gypsum.
- 50 ml of melatonin.
- 25-30 ml of nemagon.
Also read: Oyster mushroom cultivation, method and procedure
(2). Preparation of compost by long method
Step 01:
- Decided a place.
- It should be a plain cement floor.
Step 02:
- Make first layer by using wheat or paddy straw.
- It thickness should be 8-10 inches.
Step 03:
- Spray water on it.
- Hence, make it wet.
- Repeat this process up to 3 – 4 times in that day.
- Continue it for the next day.
Step 04:
- Thoroughly mix the wet straw.
- Cover it by using wet jute bags for the next 16-18 hours.
Step 05:
- Take urea, husk of wheat, calcium ammonium nitrate, and other things except gypsum.
- Evenly mix it with wet straw.
Step 06:
- Make a heap from this mixture.
- The size of the heap should be 1 × 1 × 1 m.
- You can alter the size of heap.
Step 07:
- Make it compact.
- Don’t overdo it.
Step 08:
- Loose the heap at the intervals of each 3-4 days.
- Scatter it on the surface of cement floor for 1/2 hours.
Step 09:
- Spray water on it, if it has been dried.
- Take back it into similar position after 1/2 hours.
Step 10:
- Mix 10 kg of gypsum after the third turning of the heap.
- You have to mix the rest amount of gypsum after the 4th Turing of the heap.
Step 11:
- Make a solution of malathion with 50 ml of water.
- Spray it on straw during the 5th turing of the heap.
- Reverse back it into the shape of a heap.
Step 12:
- Open the heap after 3 days.
- If it has the smell of ammonia, then again reverse back it into the shape of a heap for 2-3 days.
It takes 18-21 days with the third day’s turing, while it will take 26-28 days with the fourth day’s turning strategy.
(3). What are the qualities of a good compost?
Quality 01:
- Colour is brown.
Quality 02:
- Absence of ammonia.
Quality 03:
- pH is near neutral.
Quality 04:
- Moisture percentage is 67-70.
Quality 05:
- N percentage is 2.2-2.5