What are the substrate formulations for Lion's Mane ?

Substrate Formulation Recipes

There are numerous substrate formulations for Hericium erinaceus cultivation, varying by region based on material availability and farming practices. Recent research has focused on optimizing these formulations for better yield and efficiency. Below are some commonly used recipes utilizing different base materials: 

①Common Substrate Formulations:

②Cottonseed hull 88%, Wheat bran 10%, Gypsum 2%.

③Mixed hardwood sawdust 78%, Wheat bran 20%, Gypsum 2%.

④Corn cob 78%, Wheat bran 20%, Gypsum 2%.

Sugarcane bagasse 78%, Wheat bran 20%, Gypsum 2%.

⑤Cottonseed hull 58% + Hardwood sawdust 30%, Wheat bran 10%, Gypsum 2%.

⑥Cottonseed hull 50% + Corn cob 38%, Wheat bran 10%, Gypsum 2%.

⑦Cottonseed hull 53% + Spent Tremella substrate 30%, Wheat bran 15%, Gypsum 2%.

⑧Distiller’s grains 38% + Cottonseed hull 40%, Wheat bran 20%, Gypsum 2%.

⑨Treated pine sawdust 78%, Wheat bran 20%, Gypsum 2%.

Substitution Notes:

Wheat bran can be replaced with rice bran or corn flour while maintaining the same total proportion.

Gypsum can be substituted with calcium carbonate, though the amount may be slightly reduced.

(1) Cottonseed hulls

Choose fresh, mildew-free, and rain-free cottonseed hulls. Expose the cottonseed hulls to the sun for 1 to 2 days before planting, and then fully pre-wet them. Generally, add water to the cottonseed hulls and mix them evenly one day in advance, and then pile them up to pre-wet them so that the water can penetrate into the cottonseed hulls. When mixing the ingredients, add 1% to 2% lime powder, mix them evenly, and then add the water to about 65%, and then pack them in bags. The cottonseed hulls can also be piled up for short-term fermentation, with a bottom width of 1.5 meters and a height of 1 meter. The length depends on the terrain and the amount of raw materials. The edge of the pile is surrounded by plastic film, and the top of the pile is covered with straw. The piling period is generally 3 to 5 days. When the temperature is low in spring, autumn, and winter, the fermentation time should be longer. Turn the pile 1 to 2 times during the piling period. When turning the pile, make up the water content of the culture medium to about 60%. By appropriately extending the fermentation time, improving its physical and chemical properties, and improving the water retention capacity of the culture medium, it is beneficial for the absorption of nutrients by Hericium erinaceus mycelium.

(2) Wood Chips

It is best to crush the wood chips at least one month in advance and stack them indoors to allow moisture to evaporate and dry out. This process also softens coarse wood chips, preventing them from puncturing the cultivation bags during filling. For excessively wet wood chips, they should be spread out and sun-dried before stacking. During the stacking process, frequent turning is necessary to prevent mold, overheating, and fermentation. Avoid stacking wood chips directly on uncovered muddy ground, as the bottom layer tends to retain excessive moisture and may become contaminated with soil, leading to incomplete sterilization. If conditions do not permit pre-stacking, freshly crushed wood chips can also be used immediately. Pine wood chips must undergo degreasing before use; otherwise, they may result in lower yields. They can be stored for over six months to allow natural degreasing, or a composting fermentation method can be employed. For example, pine wood chips can be sun-dried for two days, moistened and stacked for a week, then spread out and sun-dried again for two days, followed by another week of moistened stacking, before being fully dried for later use.

(3) Sugarcane Bagasse

Fresh, white, mold-free, and unspoiled sugarcane bagasse should be selected. It must be promptly sun-dried and stored properly to prevent deterioration. Before use, sugarcane bagasse generally requires about one month of outdoor natural composting fermentation. This process encourages the proliferation of yeast and bacteria, softening the bagasse to avoid puncturing plastic cultivation bags. Additionally, fermented sugarcane bagasse is more easily utilized by Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane mushroom) mycelium, enhancing nutrient availability.

During the mixing process, it is essential to regularly measure the moisture content and pH of the culture medium to make timely adjustments, preventing either insufficient or excessive moisture levels, as well as pH values that are too high or too low. In production, the standard moisture content ranges are typically maintained at 55%-60% for compact substrates like sawdust, and 60%-65% for looser substrates such as cottonseed hulls. The pH should be maintained between 5.5-6.5 during bagging, and around 5 after sterilization.