Increasing Production of Oyster Mushroom with Burlap Sack Monday, January 26, 2015

The surrounding conditions that affect the growth of oyster mushrooms are room temperature and humidity. To get the appropriate temperature and humidity, farmers usually use a cooling machine. However, this take a big cost and energy.

The team of researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Biosystems , Faculty of Agricultural Engineering (Fateta), Bogor Agricultural University (Fateta) use wet burlap sacks to control the room temperature and humidity. The research, published in the Journal of Agricultural Engineering Volume 26, 2012, was conducted by Manunggal Ajie Putranto and Mad Yamin.

"Wet burlap sacks used to stabilize the temperature can increase the productivity of oyster mushrooms. Oyster mushroom harvest without treatment is of 75 baglog amounting to only 6.5 kilograms, whereas with the treatment of burlap sacks the harvest of oyster mushrooms is 23.5 kilograms," said Manunggal.

Burlap sacks as a cooling medium was kept on the floor between the shelves of oyster mushrooms. The goal was to keep the temperature and humidity ideal for the growth of oyster mushrooms. Water was flowed to the sacks regularly using a timer and a pump through a pipeline having holes. This is to keep the sack moist.

"During the day, the water in burlap sacks will evaporate and the resulted water vapor makes the temperature in the surrounding drop. This happens continuously because the water flowing the sacks is  periodically controlled", he explained.

To get better results, Manunggal said that during cultivation, watering intensity depends on the condition of mushroom. Burlap sacks are put between the shelves rack and in the building with hot atmosphere, you should not use asbestos roof but a tile roof. (Mtd)