Mushroom Culture

Composting

Composting: Compost can be prepared by two methods :

1. Long method of composting
2. Short or pasteurization method of composting

1. Long Method of Composting:

A) Formula developed by Mushroom Research Laboratory, Solan

Wheat straw ----------- 1,000 Kg or
Paddy straw ----------- 1,250 Kg
CAN ------------- 30 Kg
Super phosphate ------- 25 Kg
Urea -------- 12 Kg
Muriate of Potash ---- - 10 Kg
Wheat bran ---------- 100 Kg
Molasses ------------ 16.6 litres
Gypsum ------------- 100 Kg
Folidol dust ------------ 750 g

B) Formula developed by IIHR, Bangalore

Paddy straw ---------- 150 Kg
Maize stalks ---------- 150 Kg
Ammonium sulphate ---- 9Kg
Super phosphate ------- 9 Kg
Urea --------- 4 Kg
Rice bran ------------- 50 Kg
Cotton seed meal ------ 15 Kg
Gypsum ---------------- 12 Kg
Calcium carbonate ----- 10 Kg

Long method of composting was first advocated in India by Mantel et al. (1972). To begin with the composting process, clean the composting yard thoroughly and wash it with 2% formalin solution. Wheat straw or any other base material to be used is spread in a thin layer of 8-10 inches thickness over the floor of composting yard. Sprinkle water over the straw with a hose pipe and wetting of straw is done repeatedly at least 2-3 times a day for 2 days with the help of forks. Before mixing with the wet wheat straw, the ingredients like urea, CAN, super phosphate,wheat bran etc. (except insecticides and gypsum) are thoroughly mixed , wetted with water and then covered with damp gunny bags 14-16 hours before use.

Fig. 5.2 & 5.3 Fresh Wheat straw and Paddy straw stored for compost preparation
Fig 5.4 Chicken manure stored for substrate preparation

Preparation :

• Day 0: On this day fertilizer mixtures are spread evenly on the pre- wetted straw. This mixture is made into a stack with the help of wooden boards or pile formers . Dimensions of pile should be 5x5x adjustable length. Height and width of the pile should not be more than this otherwise pile may become too hot due to high temperature and the anaerobic conditions may prevail in the centre which may not yield good quality compost.
• Day 1-5: Start monitoring the temperature of the heap. Temperature should start rising after 24-48 hours of stacking and reach 65-70°C in central core. If the moisture of the mixture is less, than water can be sprayed. Watering should be stopped as soon as leaching starts from the bottom of pile. If water starts leaching in large quantity then it should be collected in a guddy pit and put on the top of the pile.

Long method of composting - stacking the heap on Day-0 with the help of pile formers
(a & b ) and a rectangular shaped compost heap raised after completion of the pile forming process ( c )


Diagram of a Pile Forming Board for stacking heap of compost during compost making in mushroom cultivation ( a & b )

• Day 6: First turning: On this day first turning is given to the stack. The aim of turning is that every portion of the pile gets equal aeration and water for proper decomposition of the base material. The correct method of turning is as follows :
• Remove about 1 feet compost from top and side of pile, shake thoroughly so that excess of ammonia is released and it is exposed to the air properly, and keep this portion on one side. Now remove the central and bottom portion of the pile, shake these with the forks and keep them separately. Now the new pile is made with the help of boards keeping the central portion at the bottom. Top and sides portion should be placed at the centre while bottom part comes on the top and sides. During pile formation watering is done ,if required.
• Day- 10: 2nd turning. Break open the stack, remove it as indicated above, water may be added if required and restack it .
• Day-13: 3rd turning: Restack and add required quantity of gypsum
• Day-16: 4th turning
• Day-19:5th turning
• Day-22:6th turning
• Day-25:7th turning : add required quantity of Folidol dust
• Day 28: Filling day.Break open the pile and check for the smell of ammonia , if it still persists, give an additional turning after 3 days. This way compost is prepared by long method in 28-30 days.

2. Short or Pasteurization Method of Composting :

Formula given by Mushroom Research Laboratory , Solan

Wheat straw ( chopped ) ------ 1000 Kg
Chicken manure ------------ 400 Kg
Brewer’s grain or wheat bran -- 72 Kg
Urea --------------- 14.5 Kg
Gypsum --------------- 30 Kg.

• This is done in two phases. Phase- I is done in the composting yard while phase II, inside a closed chamber called pasteurization chamber or tunnel (bulk chamber) with the help of aerated steam for pasteurization and conditioning of compost.
• Phase I: Phase - I involves pre-wetting of straw and mixing of ingredients in the straw as in long method. But in this case turning is given after every 48 hours (2nd day). During third turning or on 6th day total amount of gypsum is added in the compost. After 4th turning on 8th day, the compost is filled in pasteurization tunnel on 10th day.

Phase –I of composting ------ first turning after mixing urea and pile being formed with the help of a Pile Former (1) third turning being given by breaking the heap and adding water (2), picture of a front loader tractor (3) and compost turning machine (4) for mechanical composting

Phase II: (Pasteurization )

• After filling partially decomposed compost in pasteurization chamber or tunnel, a temperature of 48-50 ° C is maintained for next 2-3 days by circulating the inside air. Then with the introduction of steam, temperature of the tunnel is raised to 58-60ºC for 6 hours.
• Fresh air is then allowed to enter the room so as to bring down the temperature to 50-52°C which is maintained for 3-4 days for conditioning. When ammonia smell gets eliminated, then fresh air is introduced in the tunnel to cool down the temperature of the compost to 25-28°C. By pasteurization method, compost is prepared within 18-20 days.