Enoki is a delicious edible mushroom and a healthy food that is rich in protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Bottle cultivation of enoki is the main method of factory-based and automated production.

There are many kinds of mushrooms, all of which have high nutritional value for us.

Usage and Maintenance of Edible Mushroom Production Line Equipment
With the rapid development of large-scale edible mushroom cultivation, various types of machinery, such as sealing machines, bagging machines, sterilization cabinets, eco-friendly boilers, and automated production lines, have significantly enhanced production efficiency and reduced labor intensity. Edible mushroom production line equipment is particularly effective for quick mixing, feeding, and distribution of raw materials, enabling users to complete production tasks efficiently. Proper usage and regular maintenance are crucial for ensuring optimal equipment performance and prolonging its service life. The following provides detailed guidelines on operational precautions, handling abnormal shutdowns, and daily maintenance.


I. Operational Precautions
Pre-Startup Inspections

Ensure the mixing tank is free of residue; if leftover material exists, its thickness must not exceed 0.3 meters. Do not start the machine with a full load.
Confirm that the discharge outlets of the mixing tank and distributor are closed to avoid clogging the feed inlet of the elevator.


Startup and Operation Steps

Follow the correct startup sequence: Mixing Tank → Elevator → Distributor.
After starting the machine, check its operation for abnormalities before beginning to load materials.
During loading, ensure the materials in the mixing tank do not exceed 2/3 of the tank’s capacity.
Open the mixing tank’s discharge outlet only after the elevator is running smoothly.
The distributor’s discharge speed should be adjusted by the bagging machine operator according to its feeding rate.
When shutting down, stop feeding first. Once the distributor has stopped discharging, shut down the equipment in the following sequence: Mixing Tank → Elevator → Distributor.


Emergency Shutdown Procedures

In case of an emergency shutdown, always turn off the equipment in the proper shutdown sequence.
Follow the same order for restarting: start the machine first before adding materials.


Recommended Startup and Shutdown Sequences

Startup Sequence: Primary Mixing Tank → Primary Elevator → Secondary Mixing Tank → Secondary Elevator → Distributor.
Shutdown Sequence: Distributor → Elevator → Mixing Tank.


II. Handling Abnormal Shutdowns
Mixing Tank Shutdown

Stop feeding immediately. Check if the motor is overheating or if the chain has fallen off. Resume operations only after ensuring everything is in order.
Ensure the tank’s contents do not exceed 1/3 of its volume. Never restart with a full load.


Elevator Shutdown

Stop feeding and check for damage to the motor or belts. Restart only after confirming no issues.
Avoid restarting the elevator under a full load.


Power Failure Shutdown for the Entire Line

First, test the distributor, followed by the elevator.
Remove any residual materials from the mixing tank and follow the mixing tank abnormal shutdown procedures.
Resume feeding only after all equipment is operating normally.


III. Maintenance and Care Guidelines
Motor and Gearbox

During the first connection, ensure the motor’s rotation direction matches the arrow on the outer casing.
Fill the gearbox with gear oil or 46# anti-wear hydraulic oil, ensuring the oil level does not exceed 2/3 of the transparent window. Check oil levels every 20 days.


Bearings and Lubrication

Add grease to the bearing housing until it slightly overflows the sealing ring. Check every three days.
Regularly inspect bearings, chains, motors, and gearboxes for abnormalities, listen for unusual sounds in the auger, and check for loose screws.


Long-Term Downtime and Reuse

Before long-term storage, clean out any residual material and ensure the equipment is free of water accumulation.
When resuming use, perform an empty machine test run to confirm proper functioning.
Before starting, ensure the gearbox has adequate oil and that the bearings are greased.


Prohibited Practices

Never start the mixing tank with a full load. Always start the equipment before adding materials.


Conclusion

Proper usage and maintenance not only enhance the efficiency of edible mushroom production line equipment but also extend its service life. Adopting a well-planned maintenance schedule and promptly addressing equipment issues are key to ensuring stable and efficient operation, providing a foundation for safe and productive mushroom cultivation.

1. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Techniques
Preventive Measures (If your area has already been affected by a storm, skip this section):


Monitor weather updates closely and prepare essential supplies such as drinking water, food, medicines, and daily necessities to ensure personal and property safety.
Before the storm arrives, inspect and reinforce mushroom sheds, clear surrounding drainage ditches, and ensure smooth drainage to prevent flooding inside the sheds.
Safeguard materials such as spawn, raw materials, and cultivation bags by moving them to higher ground if necessary to avoid flood damage.
Factory-based mushroom enterprises and spawn production facilities should arrange for on-site personnel to ensure electrical and equipment safety, inspect power lines and transformers, and prepare emergency power supplies, water pumps, and backup lighting.
If the storm coincides with the outdoor fermentation of compost for button mushrooms, cover the compost with plastic sheeting before the rain and ensure proper drainage. Remove the plastic sheeting afterward to prevent anaerobic fermentation.
For high-temperature mushroom varieties, reinforce mushroom sheds and address drainage issues around the area
Ensure proper drainage to prevent mushroom cultivation bags from being soaked and contaminated.


2. Post-Disaster Response


Maintain Hygiene and Control Pests and Diseases

Clear weeds and debris around mushroom farms promptly, disinfect with lime or bleach powder, and manage pests like mushroom flies and contamination using specialized mushroom-safe pest control agents.



Clean Flood-Affected Areas

Drain standing water, remove mud and debris, and relocate submerged or buried cultivation bags to shaded, ventilated areas. Disinfect the premises with lime, chlorine dioxide, or bleach, ensuring thorough drying and pest control before resuming production.






Mushroom Bag Management

Wash submerged or contaminated cultivation bags with clean water, then spray with a lime or bleach solution. Relocate them to dry, ventilated areas for recovery.
For bags that absorbed excessive water, puncture small holes in the plastic to release moisture and improve aeration, promoting mycelial recovery. Conduct ventilation during cooler periods to avoid heat stress.
For severely damaged bags, reconnect broken sections with bamboo skewers, reposition them on racks, and remove any crushed or contaminated bags promptly to prevent cross-infection.



Reprocess Contaminated Spawn Bags

For spawn bags submerged shortly after inoculation, open the bags, sun-dry the substrate, and remix with fresh materials to recreate spawn bags.



Ensure Cultivation Environment Recovery

After cleaning and disinfecting, ensure soil or substrate conditions are restored to optimum levels for further cultivation.



By taking these preventive and responsive measures, mushroom farmers can minimize losses during extreme weather events and ensure the sustainability of their operations.

Mushroom production heavily depends on cultivation bags. As the saying goes: "Mushrooms first, bags second, management third." This highlights the importance of bag quality as the foundation of successful mushroom cultivation. However, issues like bag rupture, contamination, uneven substrate adhesion, or poor fruiting often stem from overlooked bag quality and selection, which ultimately impacts mushroom yields.
Today, we will discuss how to assess the quality of cultivation bags and share some practical tips for selection.


Methods to Assess Bag Quality
1. Check the Appearance
Align the bottom seal and the opening of the bag. If the edges are uneven, the bag is likely handcrafted, which makes it less airtight. On the other hand, machine-sealed bags are evenly aligned and generally offer better airtightness and sealing.
2. Inspect the Heat-Sealing Line
If the sealing line is opaque, it indicates manual sealing. Such bags have poor plasticity, are prone to air leakage, and are stiffer, making them more susceptible to breakage. In contrast, machine-sealed lines are transparent, soft, and durable, ensuring over 95% airtightness and reliable sealing.

3. Examine Bag Color and Consistency
High-quality bags have a clear, uniform, and smooth appearance. To check thickness, open the bag and feel it by running your hands around in a circle. If you notice uneven thickness or thin spots, the bag is likely to tear easily.

4. Puncture Test with Fingernail
Inflate a bag and seal it. Try puncturing it with a fingernail. If the bag does not leak, it indicates good quality.
5. Submersion Test
Seal the inflated bag and submerge it in a water basin. If no bubbles appear, the bag is airtight and meets quality standards. Bags with leaks are more prone to contamination during cultivation.

6. Feel the Surface
Run your hands over the surface of the bag to check for smoothness. A smooth surface suggests that the bag contains fewer recycled materials, indicating higher quality.

7. Inspect Against Sunlight
Hold the bag up to sunlight to check for small black dots. These dots are unmelted particles from recycled materials. If such particles are abundant, avoid using the bag.
8. Stretch Test
Cut a strip about 1 cm wide from the bag. Hold both ends of the strip and gently pull to stretch it. The farther it stretches without breaking, the better the bag quality.



Additional Tips
There are many ways to evaluate bag quality, but it’s crucial to select cultivation bags from certified manufacturers. Mushroom cultivation is challenging and requires careful attention to every detail. Choosing high-quality cultivation bags is an essential step that should never be overlooked!