Mushroom-growing medium

• US 4,333,757 A
• Filed: 03/21/1980
• Issued: 06/08/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture
• Inventors: Kurtzman, Ralph H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, Jr., S. Leon
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDER, FERRIS
• Application Number:
  US06/132,597
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 71/1, 71/5, 71/8, 71/9, 71/11, 71/23, 71/24, 71/27, 71/64 G, 71/64 SC, 71/64 JC, 71/901, 71/903, 71/904, 47/9, 47/1.1
• US Class Current: 71/5
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 18/20 Culture media, e.g. compost
• CPC Class Codes: C05B 3/00 Fertilisers based essentially on di-calcium phosphate C05B11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C05B 7/00 Fertilisers based essentially on alkali or ammonium orthophosphates C05B11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C05C 9/00 Fertilisers containing urea or urea compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/00 Other organic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 5/00 Fertilisers from distillery wastes, molasses, vinasses, sugar plant or similar wastes or residues, e.g. from waste originating from industrial processing of raw material of agricultural origin or derived products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 1/00 Mixtures of fertilisers belonging individually to different subclasses of C05
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 71/901 Refuse conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 71/904 Carrier

Abstract

A cellulosic medium for growing mushrooms is disclosed. A liquid mixture containing sources of soluble carbon and nitrogen is fermented and mixed with cellulosic material. The so-treated cellulosic material is held at a temperature and for a time sufficient to allow substantial reduction of organisms damaging to mushroom culture. The cellulosic material then is cooled to a temperature suitable for spawning.

Claims

1. A process for preparing a cellulosic medium for growing mushrooms, which comprises the steps of

(a) fermenting a liquid mixture containing sources of soluble carbon and nitrogen under aerobic conditions, the ratio of the nitrogen source to the carbon source being 11-13 parts of nitrogen source per 100 parts of soluble carbon source such as to result in a drop in pH of the mixture to about 4.0-6.0 during the fermentation,

(b) mixing the fermented liquid mixture with an amount of water sufficient to reduce the nitrogen content of the mixture to about 0.1-0.5% based on the weight of the mixture and calculated from the initial content of nitrogen in the added source thereof,

(c) incorporating into the fermented liquid mixture a source of calcium ions in the proportion of about 0.005-0.08 parts by weight of calcium ions per part by weight of cellulosic material,

(d) heating the fermented liquid mixture to a temperature of about 65°

-80°

C.,

(e) contacting the fermented liquid mixture with cellulosic material, and

(f) holding the cellulosic material at a pH of about 6.5-7.5 and at a temperature and for a time sufficient to allow substantial reduction of organisms detrimental to mushroom culture.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid mixture is fermented at a temperature of about 40°

-65°

C.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid mixture is fermented for a period of about 0.5-7 days.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid mixture is fermented at a temperature of about 50°

-60°

C. for a period of about 20-40 hours.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid mixture is inoculated with a fermented material prior to fermentation of the liquid mixture.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the liquid mixture is inoculated with a fermented material in the proportion of 0.01-0.5 parts of fermented material per one part of liquid mixture.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein the fermented material is fermented cellulosic material.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the fermented material is from a previous batch prepared as in claim 1.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein cellulosic material contacted with fermented liquid mixture is heated at a temperature of about 55°

-75°

C. for a period of about 1-18 hours.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein cellulosic material contacted with fermented liquid mixture is cooled to ambient temperature over a period of about 6-36 hours.

11. The process of claim 1 which further includes the step of cooling the cellulosic material to a temperature suitable for spawning of the cellulosic material.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein the cellulosic material is straw.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the fermented liquid mixture and the cellulosic material are contacted in the proportion of 3-10 parts of fermented liquid mixture per part of cellulosic material.

14. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH is allowed to drop slowly to 4.5.

15. The process of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen content of the liquid mixture is reduced to 0.3%.

16. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the cellulosic material is adjusted to within the range of about 6.5-7.5 prior to step f.

17. A cellulosic material for growing mushrooms prepared by the process of claim 1.