1. ASSIGNMENT ONPREPARATION OF CASINGMIXTURECPT-425S U BMI T T
E D B Y,ASUTOSH SARANGI (20B/10)RASHMI RANJAN MOHARANA
(21B/10)
2. What is Casing in Mushroom bed?Casing is the layer of peat
moss or othersubstrate that covers compost colonized withfungal
mycelium that acts to trigger thefructification process and as a
water reservoirfor the developing mushrooms.Peat casing has been
shown to be superior toother types of casing materials.It is the
mixture of mud and compost throughwhich mushroom germinates or
penetrates withinthe wooden cases. 3. Why Casing is required
?Casing is helped to convert vegetative growthinto mushroom. If
casing is not done then there isno formation of mushroom. If there
is somegrowth of mushroom then it is very less.Casing also helped
to maintain proper moisturecondition in the compost.FULLY
GROWNMUSHROOMS 4. TYPES: Well decomposed Farm Yard Manure (FYM)
preferablytwo years old Well decomposed Spent Mushroom Compost
(SMC) (twoyears old anaerobically decomposed) Composted coir pith
(coir industry waste) (welldecomposed & water leached)
Decomposed powdered bark of some forest trees Paper industry waste
Burnt rice husk is also in use along with decomposedFYM (2:1, v/v)
In India, the most used casing materials are Farmyardmanure + loam
soil/CaC03; Farmyard manure + 3 yearsold spent compost/CaC03 5.
MATERIALS NEEDED FOR CASINGMIXTURE PREPARATION: Vermiculture
Compost or manure (horse or cow manure, compostor manure mixture,
peat moss, coco fibre) Hand spray bottle Growing chamber with oven
Lysol & peroxide(used for controllingGreen mould growth)Water
for spraying Fully grown fungal mycelialsubstrate jar 6. Quality of
casing materials:Soft textureLight weightHigh water holding
capacityHigh porosityEfficient in available form of C and NNeutral
pH (7.0 7.5)Low conductivity (400-600 moh) 7. Casing treatmentA
heap of casing material is madeIt is wet up to 50-60% water holding
capacitytrays are filled and shifted to pasteurizationchamberSteam
pasteurization at 60-65C for 6-8 hoursAuto-CoolingAlternatively we
can drench the wet casing withformalin @ 1 litre/m3(40%
formaldehyde) bymixing with shovel & it is covered with
polythenesheet and the outer periphery is sealed thereafterby
pouring sand/soil on outside margin 8. Casing preparation:It
involves 3 steps :Casing mixture preparationSterilistaionLayering
9. METHOD OF PREPARATION OFCASING MIXTURE:First coir pith was
soaked in water up to fieldcapacity for 24 hours before
mixing.Initially individual casing materials , FYM,Sawdust, coconut
coir pith, sand and vermi-compostwere sterilized in a
horizontalautoclave at a temperature of 100C for
20minutes.Sterilized casing materials were taken out to cooldown at
normal room temperature by spreadingon well cleaned cemented
floor.After that all the casing materials are mixed bythe required
proportions. 10. STEPS IN CASINGPREPARATION:STEP 1-Gathering of all
needed material.STEP 2-Mix 1 part peroxide with 20 part
sprayingwater and applied it in compost/manure to
preventcontamination.STEP 3-Mix 1part compost/manure with 1
partvermiculture(50;50) ratio.STEP 4-Kept the mixture in growing
chamber and layerit.Apply spawn growing substrate on layering
material.STEP 5-Again apply casing material to prepare asandwich
and kept it in growing chamberSTEP 6-Place the case in chamber for
7-10 days. 11. CASING PRESERVATIONGROWTH OF MYCELIUM 12. Mixing
proportions:i.Coconut Coir pith +FYM+Saw dust (1:1:1).ii. Vermi
compost + Saw dust+FYM+ Sand (1:1:1:1)iii. Coconut Coir
pith+FYM(1:1)iv. Coconut Coir pith +Vermicompost + FYM + Saw Dust+
Sand (1:1:1:1:1)v. Vermi compost +FYM(1:1)vi. Coconut Coir pith +
Vermicompost + Sand (1:1:1). 13. CASING APPLICATION:The fully spawn
run bag is unfolded and the topsurface is made even by gentle
pressing withhandsBefore casing the newspaper sheet or
polythenesheet is removed in general the thickness ofcasing
1-1.5.Casing should be done after sowing of 15-20days when the
mushroom mycelium is spreadcompletely.Light spray of water on spawn
run compostApplication of 4-5 cm thick layer of casinguniformly
using iron rings of 4 cm height orwooden blocksWater spray in
installments immediately after 14. Layering in mushroom casing:1st
1 layer casing materialThen layering of colonized substrate
layering of casing material 15. HARVESTING:STEP 1-It is the time to
remove the lid from case and let compost breath someextra fresh
air. Now a white fungal mould growing across the surface
ofcompost/manure. This is the mature mycelium looking as a plaque
to have itsbabies(mushroom).Remove the lid from chamber and put it
away.STEP 2-Spray water on the case to saturate the compost.
Prevent stagnantwater on case. The bottom layer should moistened
properly.STEP 3-Continue watering the substrate once or twice daily
as needed. Morewatering is required in cold month due to dry air in
atmosphere. This is the mostprecious time for care.STEP 4-In this
step several mushroom popping up. When these mushroomstarts to open
up and break the veil under the cups, they are ready for
harvest.STEP 5-keep spraying water and harvest ,until chamber is no
longer producingmushroom(1-2 month). 16. PRECAUTIONS:Casing
material should not be sieved but used assuch with clumps, which
permits more air spacesin casingTop casing surface should have
small mountsand valleysCare should be taken to prevent re-infection
ofthe casing materialsStore casing material in a sterilized /clean
roombefore use in polythene bags or synthetic clothbagsApply water
to casing in a few installments so thatwater does not run into
spawn run compost. 17. Prevention of contamination of GreenMould to
the casing mixture:Green mould easily contaminates to the growing
chamber.The following control measures can be undertaken: HEAT
METHOD:-I. Frame a spoon & heat it.II. Quickly open the chamber
and scoop out with thespoon and again close the chamber lid.III.
Re-heat the spoon and repeat the process. CHEMICAL METHOD:-Mix one
part of peroxide + 20 parts of water Sterilisation of casing
material at 79F should be done toavoid future contaminations. 18.
CONTAMINATION DUE TO GREEN MOULDSTERILISATION WITH OVEN 19. Casing
preparation with peatmoss:Use peat moss, lime flour, baking pan of
tin foil.Size of casing pan= 2 x 1 x 1 cubic feet.Add 10 cups of
peat moss with 1.5 cups ofhydrated lime powder and mix togetherAdd
water until the moisture of the material formsa ballPut the wet
casing material in the baking pan &cover it with tin foilPut in
in oven and bake at 300F for 1.5 hrs.When it is done then cool it
and it is ready foruse.
