This section provides an overview for mushroom beds as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 4 mushroom bed manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A mushroom bed is a specialized medium used for mushroom cultivation. It typically consists of a mixture of woody materials like sawdust and nutrient sources such as wheat bran or rice bran, all moistened with water. Once prepared, the mixture is placed in bags or containers, where mushroom seeds (spores) are sown. This method, known as artificial cultivation, contrasts with natural cultivation techniques like log cultivation, where seeds are planted in drilled holes in logs or stumps, mimicking more natural growing conditions.
Mushroom beds have revolutionized mushroom cultivation. Traditionally, cultivation in mountainous areas involved labor-intensive tasks such as transporting deadwood, irrigating, turning treetops, and frequent watering. Harvesting was limited to specific seasons, and post-harvest processing was required for long-term storage. In contrast, mushroom bed cultivation allows year-round harvesting under controlled conditions such as temperature and humidity. This method has simplified cultivation, moving it from mountainous terrains to more accessible locations, and reduced the labor intensity of handling logs to managing the culture medium. Additionally, it minimizes the impact of weather, pests, and harmful fungi, ensuring consistent quality and yield.
Mushroom beds enable a quick turnaround from seeding to harvest (about 3-5 months), with the possibility of all-year-round cultivation. They are space-efficient and require less labor compared to traditional log cultivation. Mushroom bed cultivation is particularly appealing to new farmers due to its small-scale start-up potential and stable income prospects.
Post-harvest, used mushroom beds must be disposed of as industrial waste, which can be costly. The volume of waste generated is significantly higher than the harvest yield.
Prepare the mushroom bed material by removing foreign matter from the sawdust and mixing the ingredients in prescribed ratios.
Pack the mixture in jars, bags, or flat boxes, choosing the shape based on the fungus type and desired mushroom bed form.
Sterilize the filled mushroom beds at a central temperature of 98 °C for a minimum of 4 hours.
Inoculate the sterilized beds with seeds in a sterile environment.
Manage the environment for optimal mycelial growth, ensuring proper ventilation and moisture levels.
Adjust temperature, humidity, and light intensity to promote mushroom development.
Harvest the mushrooms once they reach a suitable size for shipping, with the method varying based on the cultivation type (bottle, bag, or flat box).
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 1 | 33.3% |
New Zealand | 1 | 33.3% |
Finland | 1 | 33.3% |