![]() Mushroom farming is the attempt to recreate the natural process of mycelium flowering on a commercial scale. In order to propagate, the mycelium sense the right combination of temperature and moisture in the air to flower. The mycelium is grown in compost, which is why you often see mushrooms growing out of dead tree branches or logs on a forest floor. Mushrooms start out as mycelium, a branching, thread-like colony of fungus. Conversely, if the stems are too short the pins may have been introduced to low levels of CO2 too soon in their growth cycle. If the cap is smaller than the body, this indicates that the CO2 concentrations are too high and "legging" is occurring. If the pin reaches 1cm in height, its full body should be equal in diameter. This matches the higher than ambient air CO2 levels found in decaying matter on top of the soil surface. Too much CO2 as the pins grow results in "legging" or long stems, as the developing fruit pushes higher in the air to search for oxygen.įor example, early in pinning, most varieties of mushrooms require CO2 concentrations in the 1,200-1,500ppm CO2 range. Mushrooms pin under high CO2 levels, then extend their stems to find oxygen. In addition, carbon dioxide monitoring is especially important during pinning. If CO2 concentrations are higher than 1,000 ppm during fruiting, yields will decrease, Most experts suggest CO2 levels between 10,000 - 20,000 ppm during the spawn run but no more than 1,000 ppm during the fruiting phase, preferably between 500 and 800ppm. All must be tightly controlled during mushroom growth in order to obtain high-quality, large sizes and overall yield. Along with darkness and humidity it is one of the most important factors in growth success. Is CO2 good for mushroom growth?Ĭarbon dioxide level control is a critical in mushroom farming. The company cultivates Button, Cremini, Portobello, Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms. The farm in the north of the country produces five tons of mushrooms a week. Or ask Laurent Demuynck, a mushroom farmer who purchased portable CO2, temperature, and relative humidity monitors for his mushroom farm in Rwanda. They are wonderful because you can move them from grow room to grow room and carry them with no problems at all.” Diego said. “We use portable CO2 meters every day at least 10 to 12 times a day. AGROLAB is a mushroom farm specializing in white caps, Portobello, Crimini, and Oyster mushrooms. Just ask Diego Molina at Team AGROLAB in Guatemala. How important is measuring carbon dioxide in mushroom farming?
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