The document outlines the production technology for button mushrooms, detailing the comprehensive steps involved from substrate composting to harvesting. Key processes include compost formulation, pasteurization, spawning, incubation, and fruiting under controlled environmental conditions. Button mushrooms, requiring specific substrates and conditions, can yield an average of 33kg of fresh mushrooms per square meter of compost.

2. Button Mushroom
Production Technology
A
Presentation By
Mr. Allah Dad Khan
Former DG Agriculture
Extension KPK

3. Button Mushroom Production;
Fruiting body has the shape of a button. Button mushroom
is also called white buttom mushroom or
champignon.Button mushroom is a secondary decomposer
i.e. it cannot feed on fresh substrate but instead the
substrate must be decomposed first

4. Process of Growing Button
Mushroom
This involves:
a. Composting substrate; Phase one, Phase two,
Pasteurization,Final conditioning
b. Spawning
c). Incubation
d). Casing
e). Fruiting.

5. Composting
Substrate formulationButton mushroom is coprophagous (grows
on manure). Traditionally it was grown on horse manure,
which is scarce hence the need for another substrate.
Preparation of artificial compost;
Wheat straw - 40Kg Ammonium sulphate1.2kg Manure 6.8kg
Urea 0.7 kg Super phosphate 1.2kg Calcium carbonate (chalk)
1.2kgProcess of composting:The purpose of composting is to
make the substrate selective to Agaricus bispora and non-
selective to other fungi.
i) Phase 1 of composting: Wet the rice straw thoroughly - spray
water to the straw till water starts running. Blending - mix the
ingredients thoroughly; Make a narrow heap or stack of 1.5m X
1.5m height and convenient length. This will ensure adequate
aeration. Too large heaps will lead to anaerobic conditions at
the center of the heap.Turning of the heap every other day to
ensure uniform decomposition.

6. Attributes of ready substrate: -
a. Substrate becomes pliable - bends very easily
b. Substrate absorbs water - improved water holding
capacity
c. Substrate turns to dark brown
d. Very strong smell of ammonia

7. ii) Phase II of composition-
Done in the mushroom growing house. The mushroom house
has beds to contain the substrate.
Pasteurization
Transfer substrate from outside onto beds in the mushroom
house and be fast enough to avoid cooling of the substrate.
The temperature of the substrate should remain at 55oC during
the transfer. There should be no mushroom growing in the
house at the moment. Fill the whole house with
substrate.Close the windows and let the substrate heat itself
up to 60oC. Easily accessible sugars and nitrogen in the form
of ammonia will be used up. This will be incorporated into
microbial tissue when they die.
Maintain temperatures at 60oC for 6 hours by controlling
ventilation.A small mushroom house may not generate 60oC so
steam source may be done.

8. Conditioning:
Lower temperature from 60-50oC (by ventilation) should be
used for a period of 12 hours. During conditioning, ensure
aeration to avoid anaerobic conditions. Aeration should
ensure that there is 1.5-2.5% carbon dioxide tested by
lighting a match stick, if it goes off immediately, carbon
dioxide is too high.
Nitrogen in the form of ammonia and any simple
carbohydrates can be depleted from the substrate at 50oC
for 5-7 days. This will ensure that ammonium ions are
below 10-ppm. Easily tested by smelling the substrate for
ammonia gas.Then cool the substrate suddenly to 25oC for
spawning.

9. Spawning
Make a hole, using a finger on the bed 2″ deep and plant
spawn at a spacing of 9-12″. Spawning rate is 7kg of spawn
per tone of wet substrate.After planting the spawn,
sprinkle some spawn on the surface of the substrate to
accelerate colonization and prevent contaminations.

10. Incubation
Best temperature of growth of button mushroom mycelia is
25oC of the substrate. Occasionally, spray some water on
the surface of the substrate. Take 2 weeks to start
fruiting.

11. Casing
After substrate is fully colonized (fully white), add casing
soil - Button mushroom mycelia will not form primordial
unless there is casing soil. Casing will trigger
fruiting.Casing material preparation is done outside the
mushroom house.The materials include real/garden soil
with enough humus.Sieve it to remove the stones, spray
formalin (to disinfect the soil) into the soil. Cover with
polythene sheets and let it remain covered for 2 days to kill
any soil fungi, nematodes and tiny insects.Apply a layer 2″
deep of casing soil on top of the mycelia. When mycelium
appears on the surface you the will trigger fruiting.

12. Fruiting
Environmental conditions necessary for button Mushroom
fruiting
1. Temperature Agaricus bisporus 12-1o8 C
2. Agaricus bitorquis 21-25o C
3. Relative humidity 85-95o C
4. Aeration - Bring down carbon dioxide to below 600ppm
or 0.06% CO2
5. After 7 days, pin heading (germination) and fruiting
(growth) will start

13. Harvesting/Yields
Picking is done with a second flush after one week. There
can be upto 6 flushes.Average yield is 33kg of fresh
mushroom per square meter of compost.
NOTE: The main substrates for button mushroom
production are rice straw, wheat straw and sugarcane
bagasse. Other types of substrates cannot be standardized
for use.