a C: N ratio of 26:1 is possible.” If you lack lab facilities, you can still determine the moisture content using a simple microwave oven”. The compost expert continued by teaching more about phase I and phase II processes and listed the things that can go wrong in phase II. The list is too long to repeat in full here, but Martin’s main message was that paying attention to every little detail at every moment of the composting process (raw materials, maintenance, recipe, temperature schedules, time, measurements, and hygiene) is vital.
Diseases and casing soil Christine Smith treated the audience to a wide-ranging presentation of the main pests and diseases that affect mushrooms, including verticillium, trichoderma and bubble. She spoke about the causes, symptoms and methods and products used to control outbreaks. Eric Vernooij of Champfood spoke on the application of supplements, of which total estimated annual consumption is around 55,000 tons per year. “China is new terrain for supple- ments. Use of supplements is set to rise here over the next ten years to 10,000 tons.” The aim of adding supplement is to boost the bio-effici- ency of compost, and supplements are available to suit every type of growing situation. Supple- ments can be added at spawning (phase II) or at casing (phase III). Vernooij warned of the influence of poor hygiene, an insufficient
ventilation capacity, too high concentration of supplement, uneven blends and using supple- ments taken from damaged packaging. “Pay attention to how the supplement is stored. It should be stored in dry, clean conditions out of direct sunlight, and not close to where growing takes place. Supplements have a shelf life of six to eight months. Provided it is applied correctly, supplement can result in 10 to 30% higher production, heavier individual mushrooms and better quality in later flushes, plus a longer shelf life.”
Construction quiz The lecture by Mathieu Geurts from casing soil producer BVB Euroveen was about the goals of using casing soil, the selection of raw materials and casing-related diseases. In light of the poor quality of many casing soils here and there in China, this is a message that can’t be repeated enough! Geurts also tried to actively engage the attentive audience in his presentation. Léon Dumoulin from Dalsem Mushroom Projects succeeded in achieving that goal. He spoke on the impact of design and control on composting systems and started by listing the conditions a modern compost plant must meet, and why critical decisions have to be taken before construction starts. The location of water supplies, the prevailing wind direction, accessi- bility, bunker dimensions, material used; these are just a few of the multiple factors that impact
“Take your time for a good composting process!”
Speakers and organisers on stage (ltr): Mr Liu (CFNA), Mathieu, Rene, Léon, June (Lambert China), Christine, Geoff , Eric and the Chinese translator.
MUSHROOM BUSINESS 47
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