| i read this in "Growing Gourmet and Medical Mushrooms" by paul stamets recently p188 ...El-Kattan and others who have conducted extensive studies have found the accumulation of carbon dioxide during colonization has an enhancing effect on subsequent yields.Studies prove partially perforated plastic gives rise to larger fruitings than substrates fully exposed. Exposed columns not only lose more moisture, but also allow the sudden escape of carbon dioxode, resulting in a substantial reduction of the total mass of the substrate.Zadrazil(1976) showed that fully 50% of the mass of wheat straw evolves into a gaseous carbon dioxide during the course of oyster mushroom production...... granted this is for straw log/column culture and not "baby food jar" culture but i thought it might help. |