Influence of wood chip particicle size used in substrate on biological afficiency and post-soak log weights of shiitake

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Wood chips from seven commercial sawdust sources were profiled by sieving materials through ten US standard sieve sizes (4 to 0.21 mm). The majority (mean=70.7%) of wood chips passed through US standard sieve size 16 (<1.18 mm). Sawdust of particle size 0.5-0.85 mm accounted for the single largest particle size class (mean=32.2 %). The next single largest class had a particle size distribution of 0.85-1.18 mm (mean=17.8%). Shiitake was grown in three crops to determine the effect of four particle size classes (1= 2.8-4.0 mm; 2= 1.7-2.8 mm; 3= 0.85-1.7 mm and 4= <0.85 mm + 2 controls) on mushroom yield. In addition, logs from two crops were weighed after each soak (3) to determine the effect of particle size on water up-take. Yield from substrate prepared with woo-d chip particle size class 4 (extra fine; <0.85 mm) was significantly less than yields from the other particle size classes and the controls. Yield from particle size class 3 (0.85-1.7 mm) was highest among the four classes. Water up-take was greater in synthetic logs made with extra fine wood chips (<0.85 mm). Profiling of wood chips at the source may help growers optimize their production media and reduce production costs. eng