Agaricus subrufescens is being massively cultivated in Japan, America and Brazil, it is a new variety with potential value for its good export prospects, the cultivation method and technology of Agaricus subrufescens is similar with Button mushroom, its cultivation technology introductions are presented below.
1. Cultivation material: the optimal cultivation materials of Agaricus subrufescens are bagasse, straw, cottonseed hull, cornstalk and bits of wood.
2. Cultivation season: for the biological characteristics of Agaricus subrufescens, cultivation season will be arranged regularly in late spring and early summer. Because of different climate conditions, so seeding time should be flexible.
3. Cultivation technology: the strain of Agaricus subrufescens can be classified in three levels, which are mother strain, original strain and plantation strain, the producing method can be done in accordance with Button mushroom. When building piles, soak straw, cottonseed hull and then fully stir with rice bran, bits of wood and animal wastes. The time of turning piles is about 7 days, ammonium sulfate and urea should be added to the compost. What’s more, Agaricus subrufescens can be cultivated both indoor and outdoor. When conducting indoor cultivation, farmers should pay attention to the changes on temperature of mushroom house.
4. Fruiting management: Agaricus subrufescens has antimicrobial ability, farmers should pay special attention to the ventilation and air exchange during the fruiting period, ventilate for 1 or 2 times in a day and each time no less than thirty minutes.
5. Harvesting and processing: Freshly picked Agaricus subrufescens can be processed by preservation and salting. When drying, some can be dried with whole body and others can be cut in half.