GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

276 GROWTH PARAMETERS
Many supplements can be used to enhance Shiitake production from sterilized sawdust. Tan and
Chang (1989) examined the effect of 17 formulations on
yield and found that a formula (dry weight)
consisting of 71% sawdust, 18% used tea leaves, 7% wheat bran, and 1.4 % calcium carbonate gave
the highest yields. When calcium sulfate was substituted for calcium carbonate, no effect on yield
was seen. In their opinion, spent tea leafs proved to be an excellent supplement for enhancing yields.
Notably, only two strains of Shiitake were used, with only four replicates of each formula for the data
trials.Another study by Morales et al. (1991) found that the addition of cotton waste to a sawdust/bran
(12.5%) formula significantly
improved yields of Shiitake.
These examples can be used as guidelines for Shiitake cultivators who will, inevitably, develop
precise formulas and strategies that maximize yields according to their unique circumstances. My
method consistently gives first flushes of Shuitake in 25-35 days, with subsequent flushes 10-14 days
apart. My final flushes end two months after the first begin. For most other Shiitake growers on sterilized
sawdust, their first flushes are just beginning after three months of incubation. Our speed of
production sets a new standard for the Shiitake industry. The "secret" of my method is the culmination
of a combination of factors: the use of an aggressive strain sustained on a unique agar formula; a
high spawning rate; a rapidly decomposing hardwood (alder); water rich in minerals; and the sensitive
care of a good cultivator. This technology is transferable and can be taught to anyone.
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