Mushroom compost is a growing medium for mushrooms. It is the material in which mushroom mycelium grows. Mushroom compost provides mushroom with the basic nutrients, moisture and energy, they need to grow and fruit.
Mushroom compost is also called mushroom substrate or mushroom soil. A substrate is a material or surface on which an organism lives, grows and obtains its nourishment. Similar to how soil is used to grow plants, substrate is used to cultivate mushrooms.
Growers use a variety of specific substrates. The requirements of substrates for various mushroom species vary. To enhance your chances of success, pair your mushrooms with the proper substrate. This is also similar to plants. Just as the soil requirements of various kinds of plants vary, the substrate requirement of mushrooms vary in the same manner.
Qualities of a good mushroom substrate
High concentrations of fibrous substances including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are present in the ideal substrates. Carbon is the primary food for mycelium, so the choice of a good quality substrate must be done with this point into consideration. Here are a few factors to consider about while selecting substrates for mushrooms:
- The nitrogen content required in the substrate is 1-2%. So, it must be supplemented in order to achieve this percentage and reach this threshold.
- The substrate must contain calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and phosphorus in small amounts. Although, raw substrates contain these minerals already, but the materials from different origins, contain different levels of these minerals. So, the materials, need to be tested and supplemented accordingly.
- The substrate needs to have a pH level of nearly 5-6.5, which means it needs to be slightly acidic.
- In order for the mycelium to colonize easily, the substrate must have a good structure for air exchange.
- The substrate must have a moisture content of 50-70%
- Substrate must not have competing organisms in order to help the mycelium grow. For this proper sterilization of substrate needs to be done.
Preparation of substrates
In order to make the mycelium grow in the substrate, by the addition of mushroom spawn, the substrate material, first needs to be prepared. The process of preparation of substrate, begins by the addition of water, and the additionally required nutrients. After this, the substrate needs to be sterilized or pasteurized. This kills the competing organisms and makes mushroom mycelium growth possible in the substrate.
Mushroom substrates when ready, can be placed in a variety of containers. For the commercial farmers, it is mostly, packed in clear plastic bags, or mushroom beds are prepared. Whereas, for home growers, it can be packed into buckets or mason jars.
Mushroom spawn can be added into the substrate once it has been sterilized or pasteurized.
Common mushroom substrate materials
You can use a variety of materials as a substrate while growing mushrooms. Some are relatively traditional, while others are a little newer and experimental. Here are a few of the substrates that mushroom growers currently use most frequently:
Straw
Straw is the most popular and the most widely used mushroom substrate material. Rice straw and mushroom straw are two widely used substrates. The straw of rye and oats can also be used. It is an agricultural waste and can be easily found for free or at a very low price. Straw needs to be sterilized for the preparation of substrate. It is necessary to use straw of freshly harvested cereals.
The most major benefit of using straw as a raw material for the substrate is its high content of lignin and cellulose. They are very essential for increasing the yield of the mushrooms.
Sawdust
Sawdust is the waste product of woodwork. It is composed of small chippings of wood. Sawdust of the deciduous trees i.e., trees that lose their leaves at the end of growing season, can only be used as a mushroom substrate. Sawdust cannot serve as a complete nutrient material for mushrooms, so the sawdust is mixed with bran, in order to enrich the mixture with nitrogen.
Manure
Hay, straw, grass and everything that is eaten by animals such as cows, horses, goats, rabbits, etc., undergoes a unique fermentation and microbiological processing in their intestines. Therefore, the manure substrate is a natural source of macronutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as a number of microelements, such as lime, magnesia, sulfur, chlorine, and silicon, necessary for the full development of the mycelium.
Herbivore manure, like any excrement, has an unpleasant odor, which is in its fresh form only. But if the manure is dry and all the urea and ammonia has evaporated, it will smell similar to rotten grass which, in fact is the manure.
Logs
Logs are the solid pieces of wood, which can be used as a substrate. Logs are used to grow shiitake and other varieties of mushrooms outdoors. The ideal logs for growing mushrooms are three to four feet long and four to six inches in diameter.
Wood that is dead or is about to die, shall not be used, as other types of fungi may have already begun to colonize the wood, so the desired mycelium would not get a chance to grow in such wood log. Similarly, a freshly cut log must not be used, as trees when alive have natural fungi preventing property. So, wooden logs must be kept in a dry and clean place before being used as a substrate.
Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are the waste products of the brewing process. They look like small grains or beans, that are leftover and do not dissolve in water. Coffee grounds are a great substrate for mushrooms, as they are already pasteurized. Pasteurization of the substrate is very important in order to prevent growth of competing bacteria, fungi or insects.
Coffee grounds can be obtained from local coffee shops for free. The important thing in this to make sure using the same day coffee grounds. Old coffee grounds will be too dry and have spores forming already. Also remember to not use sizzling hot coffee grounds, so they need to be cooled down a bit before using.
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