In the process of cultivating edible mushrooms, the treatment of the growing medium is one of the most critical steps, directly affecting the success or failure of the entire cultivation and the final yield. Traditionally, people used natural fermentation methods to prepare the culture material, but this often led to incomplete fermentation. As a result, beneficial bacteria could not fully multiply, leading to serious bacterial contamination. Later, with advancements in techniques, the materials were moved into closed mushroom houses where steam was introduced to control temperature manually, reducing bacterial contamination. However, this method was labor-intensive, time-consuming, energy-consuming, and inefficient.
In recent years, the use of starter cultures has become increasingly popular in edible mushroom cultivation, yielding excellent results. The application of these starters brings several key advantages:
(a) **Rapid Temperature Increase**: When using a fermentation agent, the temperature of the culture material rises quickly to above 60°C. For example, Kinpo fermentation agents can reach 60–70°C within two or three days. This high temperature effectively kills not only harmful bacteria but also most fungal spores and insect eggs.
(b) **Microbial Population Enhancement**: Fermentation agents promote the rapid multiplication of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In particular, actinomycetes can increase by more than 100 times compared to secondary fermentation. These beneficial microbes occupy space and resources, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. Their activity also generates heat, maintaining high temperatures for extended periods. Additionally, antibiotics produced by these microbes create a natural barrier against recontamination.
(c) **Improved Nutrient Composition**: During the fermentation process, cellulose-decomposing fungi and actinomycetes break down complex organic matter. This leads to a reduction in cellulose content, an increase in soluble sugars, and a better carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Free proteins are converted into mycelial proteins that are more suitable for mushroom growth, resulting in stronger mycelium development. Using a starter like Golden Baby can boost mushroom yields by 20–30%.
(d) **Expanded Raw Material Sources**: Traditional mushroom cultivation mainly uses cotton husks, while agricultural crop stalks are often burned, causing environmental pollution. This is due to incomplete fermentation, which prevents the breakdown of cellulose, making it hard for mushroom mycelia to absorb nutrients. Starters solve this problem by improving decomposition efficiency. Manure from chickens, ducks, cows, pigs, and silkworms can be used as alternative nutrient sources. These materials are rich in nutrients and can replace expensive bran and cake fertilizers. With the help of fermentation agents, more manure can be added, and even waste materials like failed buckwheat bags or contaminated substrates can be reused after treatment.
The use of fermentation agents not only reduces costs and environmental impact but also makes the cultivation process easier and more efficient. It allows for the transformation of traditional clinker into high-quality fermented material, suitable for various mushrooms such as oyster, shiitake, and apricot mushrooms. Overall, the application of edible mushroom cultivation material fermentation agents is a smart, sustainable, and effective approach that enhances productivity and quality in mushroom farming.
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