BIO-MUSHROOMS
Part from the "Hungarian mushroom" 10th edition. March 1999.

The Champex Ltd formed in 1990 definitely played a pioneer role in the acclimatisation of domestic non-chemical mushroom production. Step by step it formed its production technology, its clientele. It's been part of the Bioculture Society since the beginning, which is responsible for the controlling and qualification. The non-chemical mushroom-producing technology is basically the same as the traditional (chemical user) production, but we insist on the importance of hygiene and we implemented several small tricks based on years of experience. We produce in single stored basements. One of the main keys to our success (taking the perfect quality of compost and embryo) is the thorough disinfecting of the production rooms.

Cellar disinfecting: After the yielding, we scratch up the floor and sweep up all the garbage. The disinfecting is done by hot water at high pressure. With hot water we first wash the ceiling then the walls and last the floor. We singe off all of these with gas burner. Even though this method is expensive, the secure production makes it worth while. In the end we whitewash the ceiling and the walls with calcium hydrate solution before each plantation. Ingathering: The bringing in of the germinated compost is done right from the transporter vehicle. This means, the members of the ingathering team, in clean clothes and shoes, take the bags right from the platform in barrows, previously disinfected by hypo (an antiseptic). In dirt cellars we put veil-foils on the ground and spread salt around. In wintertime, when bags are gathered in, we cover them with veil-foils right away and next day when the crumpling is done we take it off. By this time we are heating and after crumpling the foils are put back on top of the bags. We take the foils off on the 6th-7th day when the temperature of the compost reaches 24-25°C. The temperature is increasing in the next 4-5 days, it is measured more times daily and when it reaches the 29-30°C, the foil is put back for another 2-3 days. After this period, the foil is taken off definitively.

Overlaying from bag to bag: On the 18th day the overlaying is done about 4,5-5 cm thick, from bag to bag. The packing material is bought ready mixed, ready to use. Compounds: 10% sandstone powder, 90% peat. The overlaying material in the bags is taken down to the cellars after the 5th-6th day of ingathering, so its temperature will be equal to the compost ready to be covered. After spreading the overlaying material and cleaning the place, the watering is done on the 19th day. We water once on the 19th day, put approximately 10 l of water on 4m2. We water twice on the 20th day, 2,5 l of water/m2 in the morning, and enough to make it plashy in the afternoon.

Sprouting of overlaying material: In our cultivation we either use ready to use overlaying material - embryo bought from the embryo-producers, or the obviously healthy looking, evenly interlaced compost chosen out by us. The average temperature of compost is usually 26°C during the covering material sprouting. We put one handful of interlaced compost on one sack then evenly mix it to the covering material. According to our experiences the waves will be nicer, the pistil bodies will grow one by one, the bunching will greatly decrease. The advantages of the overlaying material embryo: it'll yield faster (8-10 days earlier!). So the number of yearly settled rotary could be increased. The quality of mushroom grown between is also excellent for export. It happens that at the intercoursing of the compost and the covering material that the lower covering material level (already interlaced with mycelium) becomes crusty. It's a tiny mistake of our producing technology. The cause is that the covering material is inadequately watered and not enough of water reaches the lower level. a This mistake can be corrected during the spouting of covering material by slightly crumbling this hard part. Within five days from the starting of the ventilation, we cool down the compost to 20-21°C. If more ventilation is needed (because of the CO2 level) we just not only ventilate but also heat. Except for the temperature measuring, we're left to our organ of senses, like: air in the cellar, time of covering material whitening, method of drifting, number of needle-heads formed. If we decide that more fresh air is needed, but the compost-temperature is already decreasing we heat again (level heating). On the 10th day from the beginning of ventilation the 1st wave begins. The last watering is done 2-3 days before. We water continuously from the appearing of hazel sized pistil bodies, even twice a day with small amount of water.

Yielding period: At one plantation we take off 3-4 waves, 18-22 kg of mushroom/compost-quintal of the brown capped type, 92% export quality. The collecting and packaging according to the customers' needs lays a great charge on all of us. The brown capped type needs to be collected twice but many times even three times a day.