Post on 27-Jun-2015
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2. What is Casing in Mushroom bed?Casing is the layer of peat moss or othersubstrate that covers compost colonized withfungal mycelium that acts to trigger thefructification process and as a water reservoirfor the developing mushrooms.Peat casing has been shown to be superior toother types of casing materials.It is the mixture of mud and compost throughwhich mushroom germinates or penetrates withinthe wooden cases. 3. Why Casing is required ?Casing is helped to convert vegetative growthinto mushroom. If casing is not done then there isno formation of mushroom. If there is somegrowth of mushroom then it is very less.Casing also helped to maintain proper moisturecondition in the compost.FULLY GROWNMUSHROOMS 4. TYPES: Well decomposed Farm Yard Manure (FYM) preferablytwo years old Well decomposed Spent Mushroom Compost (SMC) (twoyears old anaerobically decomposed) Composted coir pith (coir industry waste) (welldecomposed & water leached) Decomposed powdered bark of some forest trees Paper industry waste Burnt rice husk is also in use along with decomposedFYM (2:1, v/v) In India, the most used casing materials are Farmyardmanure + loam soil/CaC03; Farmyard manure + 3 yearsold spent compost/CaC03 5. MATERIALS NEEDED FOR CASINGMIXTURE PREPARATION: Vermiculture Compost or manure (horse or cow manure, compostor manure mixture, peat moss, coco fibre) Hand spray bottle Growing chamber with oven Lysol & peroxide(used for controllingGreen mould growth)Water for spraying Fully grown fungal mycelialsubstrate jar 6. Quality of casing materials:Soft textureLight weightHigh water holding capacityHigh porosityEfficient in available form of C and NNeutral pH (7.0 7.5)Low conductivity (400-600 moh) 7. Casing treatmentA heap of casing material is madeIt is wet up to 50-60% water holding capacitytrays are filled and shifted to pasteurizationchamberSteam pasteurization at 60-65C for 6-8 hoursAuto-CoolingAlternatively we can drench the wet casing withformalin @ 1 litre/m3(40% formaldehyde) bymixing with shovel & it is covered with polythenesheet and the outer periphery is sealed thereafterby pouring sand/soil on outside margin 8. Casing preparation:It involves 3 steps :Casing mixture preparationSterilistaionLayering 9. METHOD OF PREPARATION OFCASING MIXTURE:First coir pith was soaked in water up to fieldcapacity for 24 hours before mixing.Initially individual casing materials , FYM,Sawdust, coconut coir pith, sand and vermi-compostwere sterilized in a horizontalautoclave at a temperature of 100C for 20minutes.Sterilized casing materials were taken out to cooldown at normal room temperature by spreadingon well cleaned cemented floor.After that all the casing materials are mixed bythe required proportions. 10. STEPS IN CASINGPREPARATION:STEP 1-Gathering of all needed material.STEP 2-Mix 1 part peroxide with 20 part sprayingwater and applied it in compost/manure to preventcontamination.STEP 3-Mix 1part compost/manure with 1 partvermiculture(50;50) ratio.STEP 4-Kept the mixture in growing chamber and layerit.Apply spawn growing substrate on layering material.STEP 5-Again apply casing material to prepare asandwich and kept it in growing chamberSTEP 6-Place the case in chamber for 7-10 days. 11. CASING PRESERVATIONGROWTH OF MYCELIUM 12. Mixing proportions:i.Coconut Coir pith +FYM+Saw dust (1:1:1).ii. Vermi compost + Saw dust+FYM+ Sand (1:1:1:1)iii. Coconut Coir pith+FYM(1:1)iv. Coconut Coir pith +Vermicompost + FYM + Saw Dust+ Sand (1:1:1:1:1)v. Vermi compost +FYM(1:1)vi. Coconut Coir pith + Vermicompost + Sand (1:1:1). 13. CASING APPLICATION:The fully spawn run bag is unfolded and the topsurface is made even by gentle pressing withhandsBefore casing the newspaper sheet or polythenesheet is removed in general the thickness ofcasing 1-1.5.Casing should be done after sowing of 15-20days when the mushroom mycelium is spreadcompletely.Light spray of water on spawn run compostApplication of 4-5 cm thick layer of casinguniformly using iron rings of 4 cm height orwooden blocksWater spray in installments immediately after 14. Layering in mushroom casing:1st 1 layer casing materialThen layering of colonized substrate layering of casing material 15. HARVESTING:STEP 1-It is the time to remove the lid from case and let compost breath someextra fresh air. Now a white fungal mould growing across the surface ofcompost/manure. This is the mature mycelium looking as a plaque to have itsbabies(mushroom).Remove the lid from chamber and put it away.STEP 2-Spray water on the case to saturate the compost. Prevent stagnantwater on case. The bottom layer should moistened properly.STEP 3-Continue watering the substrate once or twice daily as needed. Morewatering is required in cold month due to dry air in atmosphere. This is the mostprecious time for care.STEP 4-In this step several mushroom popping up. When these mushroomstarts to open up and break the veil under the cups, they are ready for harvest.STEP 5-keep spraying water and harvest ,until chamber is no longer producingmushroom(1-2 month). 16. PRECAUTIONS:Casing material should not be sieved but used assuch with clumps, which permits more air spacesin casingTop casing surface should have small mountsand valleysCare should be taken to prevent re-infection ofthe casing materialsStore casing material in a sterilized /clean roombefore use in polythene bags or synthetic clothbagsApply water to casing in a few installments so thatwater does not run into spawn run compost. 17. Prevention of contamination of GreenMould to the casing mixture:Green mould easily contaminates to the growing chamber.The following control measures can be undertaken: HEAT METHOD:-I. Frame a spoon & heat it.II. Quickly open the chamber and scoop out with thespoon and again close the chamber lid.III. Re-heat the spoon and repeat the process. CHEMICAL METHOD:-Mix one part of peroxide + 20 parts of water Sterilisation of casing material at 79F should be done toavoid future contaminations. 18. CONTAMINATION DUE TO GREEN MOULDSTERILISATION WITH OVEN 19. Casing preparation with peatmoss:Use peat moss, lime flour, baking pan of tin foil.Size of casing pan= 2 x 1 x 1 cubic feet.Add 10 cups of peat moss with 1.5 cups ofhydrated lime powder and mix togetherAdd water until the moisture of the material formsa ballPut the wet casing material in the baking pan &cover it with tin foilPut in in oven and bake at 300F for 1.5 hrs.When it is done then cool it and it is ready foruse.