IES84202Y1 - A method of growing mushrooms - Google Patents
A method of growing mushrooms Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- IES84202Y1 IES84202Y1 IE2005/0384A IE20050384A IES84202Y1 IE S84202 Y1 IES84202 Y1 IE S84202Y1 IE 2005/0384 A IE2005/0384 A IE 2005/0384A IE 20050384 A IE20050384 A IE 20050384A IE S84202 Y1 IES84202 Y1 IE S84202Y1
- Authority
- IE
- Ireland
- Prior art keywords
- casing
- mushrooms
- wetting
- shelf
- stage
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000009736 wetting Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 43
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 40
- 239000002361 compost Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000003595 mist Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000009499 grossing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003415 peat Substances 0.000 abstract description 9
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000002965 rope Substances 0.000 description 2
- 240000005572 Syzygium cordatum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000006650 Syzygium cordatum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000004215 spores Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Abstract
ABSTRACT A method of growing mushrooms is carried out in a growing house 1 having shelves 3 on the underside of which are mounted spray nozzles 4 for delivering a spray of water onto casing, usually peat, which is laid on compost in turn on the shelves 3. The fine spray gives efficient wetting and little disturbance of the casing and compost. This reduces the growing cycle time.
Description
The present invention relates to a method of growing mushrooms and further, to a
growing house for use in the carrying out of the method.
Essentially, the process of growing mushrooms commercially comprises preparing a
seeded compost which is seeded with mushroom spore, placing this in some form of
container, placing a layer of a casing material, very often peat, on top of the compost,
then wetting the peat and compost. Then the top of the casing is raked and
smooth-ed over or ruffled, as it is often called, which includes drawing a certain
amount of the compost up in through the casing. As the mushrooms grow, they are
harvested. Generally, about three flushes or crops of mushroom are harvested from
every container.
A particularly effective way is to grow the mushrooms on shelving. The shelves are
filled with a layer of seeded compost and a layer of casing, usually peat, is placed on
top of the compost. Then the peat is wetted. Usually, this is done by delivering
heavy jets of water on the peat forming the casing which wets the peat very quickly,
however, this aggressive wetting is not as effective as it should be. The water tends
to be delivered throughout the casing, finding its way out of the casing, rather than
being retained within the casing. Very often, this aggressive wetting causes the
formation of hollow channels within the casing. Normally, water is applied via a fixed
spray bar, often called a water tree, from the side of the shelving applied across the
bed of the casing. This is very difficult to get an even application of water. Also this
aggressive method of watering has a washing effect on the peat.
A further problem with water during cropping is that the mushrooms, already on the
bed, are subjected to splashes of peat from the casing.
Another problem is that during the initial wetting of the compost and indeed during
much of the growing, it is desirable to have the relative humidity of the ggowing house
as high as possible. While aggressive wetting of the growing house, and in particular
the casing provides a considerable quantity of water in the house, it generally tends
to run off very quickly and thus the air within the house is not humidified as efficiently
as it should be.
The present invention is directed towards providing an effective method of wetting the
casing and compost in an efficient manner.
According to the invention, there is provided a method of growing mushrooms on an
elongate shelf comprising:
drawing a sheet of plastics netting longitudinally onto the shelf to cover
the shelf;
delivering seeded compost onto the netting as it is being drawn onto the
shelf;
delivering casing on top of the compost,
delivering a fine mist of water onto the casing for a preset time at preset
time intervals in an initial wetting stage;
then allowing the casing to rest for a preset time in a water absorption
stage;
delivering a further fine mist of water onto the casing for a preset time at
preset intervals in a final wetting stage;
drawing some of the compost up througt the casing in a ruffling stage;
then smoothing the surface of the casiig and compost subsequent to
ruffling in a settling stage, the settling stage taking place not necessarily
subsequent to the wetting and absorption stages;
allowing the mushrooms to grow;
harvesting the mushrooms as a first flush of mushrooms;
carrying out further initial wetting, absorption and final wetting stages
before harvesting a further crop of mushrooms; and
then repeating this further initial wetting absorption and final wetting
stages at least once more to produce a still further crop of mushrooms.
The advantage of this method is that the fine mist of water ensures an efficient and
comprehensive wetting of the casing. Further, the area is wetted very efficiently and
the relative humidity of the growing house is maintained as high as possible.
in one method according to the invention, an additional sheet of plastics material is
positioned below the sheet of netting and drawn with it onto the shelf. This is
sometimes done to retain moisture on the shelving, when such moisture might have
permeated down to the casing, compost and netting.
In one method according to the itventlon, the method comprises carrying out the
settling stage contemporaneously with the absorption stage. In this way, the
throughput through the growing house is increased.
In another embodiment of the invention, the fine mist of water is delivered onto the
casing during the wetting stage for between 1 and 5 minutes every hour during
production of the first crop of mushrooms, which fine mist of water may be delivered
for between 2 and 3 minutes during production of the first crop of mushrooms.
In one way of carrying out the invention, each wetting stage lasts between 4 and 12
hours during the production of the first crop of mushrooms and in general, each
wetting stage lasts between 4 and 5 hours.
In one embodiment of the invention, the water absorption stage is carried out over 20
to 28 hours and generally of the order of 24 hours for production of the first crop of
mushrooms.
In another embodiment of the invention, the absorption stage is carried out for of the
order of 8 hours for the first crop of mushrooms.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the initial wetting, absorption, and final
wetting stages for each further crop may be carried out for of the order of between 40
to 60% of the time and with 40 to 60% of the volume of fine mist applied for the
previous crop.
In another embodiment of the invention, the time of operation and quantity of water is
of the order of 50%.
In one embodiment of the invention, the mist is delivered at a rate of between 55 and
65 litres per hour to cover an area 2 to 3 metres in diameter and preferably at the rate
of the order of 61 litres per hour over an area of the order of 2.4 metres in diameter.
In another embodiment of the invention, the water is delivered at a pressure of the
order of 60 psi.
In another embodiment of the invention, the amount of water delivered is such as to
maintain the humidity in excess of 96% during the wetting and absorption stages and
preferably in excess of 98%.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a growing house for
carrying out the method of any preceding claim, comprising:
an enclosure;
a plurality of longitudinally arranged shelves;
a main water delivery pipe longitudinally arranged above and spaced-
apart from each shelf;
a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on a distal end of a spray pipe with
its proximal end projecting into the interior of the delivery pipe, the spray
nozzles projecting below the pipe; and
a pressurised water pump feeding the main water delivery pipe.
in another embodiment of the invention, each main water delivery pipe inclines
downwardly from a water inlet to outlet.
[HIE .. “II I.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an
embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of the interior of a growing house according to the
‘invention,
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of portion of the drawing of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a view of a spray nozzle used with the invention, and
Figs. 4 to 6 are diagrammatic views showing the loading of shelves with
compost and casing.
Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, there is illustrated portion
of a mushroom growing house 1 having a support structure 2, a plurality of shelves 3
on the underneath of which are mounted spray nozzles 4 connected by piping 5 to
pumps 6 to a water storage tank 7, connected to a main supply pipe 8.
Referring to Fig. 3, the spray nozzle 4 has a delivery outlet 10 on a delivery pipe 11
which projects about halfway into the feed pipe 5. The delivery pipe 11 thus has an
inlet 12, essentially close to the centre of the pipe 5.
Referring to Fig. 4, there is illustrated portion of the shelving 3 at one end of which is
mounted a reel 20 for netting 21, together with a reel 22 for a plastics sheet 23.
There is also provided a driven winch 25 adjacent the distal end of the shelf 3, which
driven winch 25 mounts a draw rope 26 having a hook 27. Delivery hoppers 28 are
mounted at the proximal end of the shelving 3, only one hopper 28 being shown.
One hopper is for compost and the other for casing. A third reel 30 is illustrated
mounting a conveyor belt 31.
Referring now to Fig. 5, there is illustrated a carriage 35 mounted by wheels 36 on
the shelf 3. The carriage 35 is connected to the conveyor belt 31 which is fast on the
support structure 2 at 39. The carriage 35 mounts conveyor rollers 37 for the
conveyor belt 31.
In operation, and referring initially to Fig. 4, the sheet of netting 21 and plastics sheet
are connected to the hook 27 and drawn by the rope 26 along the shelf 3. as
compost, identified by the reference numeral 40, is delivered out of the hopper 28.
Then the hook 27 is disconnected and the carriage 35 (see Fig. 5) is connected to
the conveyor belt 31 and mounted on the shelving 3. Then the carriage 35 is
connected to the hook 27 and again is drawn along the shelving 3 as casing,
identified by the reference numeral 45, is delivered out of the hopper 28 onto the
conveyor belt 3, as illustrated in Fig. 5. As the casing 45 is delivered onto the
conveyor belt 31, some of it is being discharged onto the compost 40. Then, when
the carriage 30 has travelled approximately halfway down the shelf 3, no more casing
45 is delivered onto the conveyor belt 29. The carriage is then continued to be draw
down the shelf 3 and the casing 45 is delivered on top of the compost 40, see Fig. 6.
A fine mist of water is then delivered by the nozzles 4 onto the casing 45 for a preset
time and at present time intervals in an initial wetting stage. This initial wetting stage
takes place for between one and five minutes approximately every hour. This initial
wetting stage usually lasts about four to twelve hours, depending upon the condition
of the casing 45. Usually, this wetting stage lasts between 4 and 5 hours. Then .a
water absorption stage is carried out over between twenty and twenty-eight antd
V the previous stages.
_ 7 -
usually twenty-four hours, again depending upon the condition of the casing 45.
Water is applied to the casing based upon the condition of the casing, at all times
ensuring that the casing remains reasonably saturated with water. After or during the
wetting or absorption stages, the casing 26 is smoothed and ruffled in a conventional
way.
When the first crop or flush of mushrooms has been harvested, the initial wetting,
absorption and final wetting stages are repeated, usually for about between 40-60%
of the time of the previous initial wetting, absorption and final wetting stages and with
between 40-60% of the volume of water. When the second flush of mushrooms has
been harvested, preparations are made for a third flush, again wetting the casing 45
in an initial wetting stage, having an absorption stage and a final wetting stage,
usually with a quantity of water and time of the order of between 30-40% of that of
Usually, only three flushes of mushrooms are harvested,
although indeed additional flushes could be harvested. However, the yield is usually
insufficient to warrant the time and the labour involved.
, it has been found that each wetting stage can be as little as between four and five
hours during the production of the first crop of mushrooms and that the absorption
stage is carried out for the order of twenty four hours. These are relatively short
times. it has been found, however, that by using the correct amount of water, it is
possible to increase the humidity in the growing house to approximately 98% and that
further, very efficient wetting of the casing 45 and compost 25 is achieved.
The spray nozzles 4 are arranged so as to cover an area of between 2 to 3 metres in
diameter and to deliver between 44 and 65 litres per hour. in one embodiment, the
area was approximately 2.4 metres in diameter, while delivering approximately 61
litres per hour.
The great advantage of having the pipe 11 of the nozzle 4 projecting into the feed
pipe 5 is that when the fine mist is cut off, the pipe 11 empties very quickly under the
pressure and any residual water in the pipe 5 cannot flow into the inlet 12. In this
way, the water is shut off immediately and there are no residual drops or at least
there are minimal residual droplets left on the nozzle 4 which eventually fall onto the
casing 26. Further, the fine mist prevents the adherence of large droplets to the
underside of the shelving or to the structure itself. Thus, the growing mushrooms are
not subject to splashing. Further, the fine mist ensures that the humidity of the house
very quickly reaches the optimum. It will further be noticed that the fine mist also
improves the wetting of the casing 45 and prevents it being disturbed to such an
extent that the smoothing and ruffling of the casing 45 can be carried out during the
absorption stage which further reduces the time to prepare the crop of mushrooms
for growing.
Further, it has been noticed that because of the relative lack of disturbance of the and
casing 45, more even growth was achieved. This was a surprising result as there did
not seem to be any particular reason as to why this should happen. However, it is
postulated that the possible reason is that a more even and cohesive growing
medium with more even distribution of water achieves this, the point being that the
casing 45 is evenly wetted throughout the shelf.
In the specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” or
any variation thereof and the terms "include, includes, included and including” or any
variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be
afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, but may be
varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (1)
- C.LAlM.S A method of growing mushrooms on an elongate shelf comprising: drawing a sheet of plastics netting longitudinally onto the shelf to cover the shelf; delivering seeded compost onto the netting as it is being drawn onto the shelf; delivering casing on top of the compost, delivering a fine mist of water onto the casing for a preset time at preset time intervals in an initial wetting stage for between 2 and 5 minutes every hour; then allowing the casing to rest for a preset time in a water absorption stage; delivering a further tine mist of water onto the casing for a preset time at preset intervals in a final wetting stage; drawing some of the compost up through the casing in a ruffling stage; then smoothing the surface of the casing and compost subsequent to ruffling in a settling stage, the settling stage taking place contemporaneously with the wetting and absorption stages; allowing the mushrooms to grow; halvesting the mushrooms as a first flush of mushrooms; carrying out further initial wetting, absorption and final wetting stages before harvesting a further crop of mushrooms; and then repeating this further initial wetting absorption and final wetting stages at least once more to produce a still further crop of mushrooms. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which an additional sheet of plastics material is positioned below the sheet of netting and drawn with it onto the shelf. A method of growing mushrooms on an elongate shelf substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. A growing house for carrying out the method of any preceding claim, comprising: an enclosure; a plurality of longitudinally arranged shelves; a main water delivery pipe longitudinally arranged above and spaced- apart from each shelf and inclined downwardly from a water inlet to outlet; a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on a distal end of a spray pipe with its proximal end projecting into the interior of the delivew pipe, the spray nozzles projecting below the pipe; and a pressurised water pump feeding the main water delivery pipe. A growing house for carrying out the method of any of claims 1 to 3, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
IE20050384U1 IE20050384U1 (en) | 2006-05-03 |
IES84202Y1 true IES84202Y1 (en) | 2006-05-03 |
Family
ID=
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
DE2351508A1 (en) | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR BREEDING PLANTS | |
JP7467545B2 (en) | Hydroponic Cultivation Machine | |
KR102320847B1 (en) | An apparatus for aeroponics | |
JP6897154B2 (en) | Raising seedling method | |
NL7902310A (en) | WATER CULTURAL UNIT. | |
Grigas et al. | Hydroponic devices for green fodder production: a review | |
IES20050384A2 (en) | A method of growing mushrooms | |
GB2426906A (en) | A method of growing mushrooms | |
IES84202Y1 (en) | A method of growing mushrooms | |
IE20050384U1 (en) | A method of growing mushrooms | |
GB1582843A (en) | Soilless plant culture | |
US7334368B1 (en) | Method of germinating seeds or the like growth-suited parts of a plant contained in germinating units, as well as a germinating box and a germinating assembly for use when carrying out the method | |
IE20050383A1 (en) | A method of growing mushrooms | |
JP2005204662A (en) | Method for hilling type rhizosphere controlling cultivation of fruit tree | |
KR20160112492A (en) | Automatic air supply apparatus for supplying air to the roots of the plant | |
CN104429758A (en) | Method for cultivating saplings by plant fibers | |
JPH08502161A (en) | Lawn processing | |
CN108293514A (en) | A kind of multifunctional agriculture planting greenhouse of optimization | |
JP3592517B2 (en) | Culture and cultivation method of Shiitake mushroom bed | |
Orge et al. | Field performance of the capillary wick irrigation (capillarigation) system for rice-based crops | |
JP3660986B2 (en) | Drainage amount measuring means, automatic liquid supply method and automatic liquid supply device in nutrient solution cultivation using the drainage amount measuring means, and nutrient solution cultivation method and nutrient solution cultivation apparatus using the same | |
CN219460162U (en) | Insect pest prevention device for cherry planting | |
JP3026409U (en) | Hydroponics equipment | |
JPH09107793A (en) | Supply of water to cortinellus shiitake culture bed | |
CN219395656U (en) | Agricultural planting box |