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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
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Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls
#23968426 - 12/30/16 03:22 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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I recently came across a great opportunity for next to free cotton seed hull substrate. A few tons for 50 bucks. It is always a smart decision to reutilize waste streams when possible. And I am well aware of the arguments/debates on cotton seed hull use in terms of 'toxicity', there is already a very in-depth thread on that so I don't want to go into that here.
The idea is to switch my oyster production over to all cotton seed hulls supplemented with wheat bran. The result would be a high cellulose/high protein sub that oysters would gobble up and hopefully yield much more. I have grown on CSH before with great success, but they were not supplemented. Does anyone have experience with what I describe?? Any thoughts?
-Scott
Edited by MycoFlora (12/30/16 07:00 PM)
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MycoFlora
Farmer


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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23970637 - 12/31/16 12:26 PM (7 years, 30 days ago) |
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Well I went ahead and made a few bags to test out side by side with my supp. sawdust formula (80/20). I will post my findings after they fruit!
Hope others can chime in on the mean time.
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MorePies
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23971224 - 12/31/16 03:57 PM (7 years, 30 days ago) |
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Mush grower on YouTube ran csh for a minute, there might be a formula in there somewhere.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MorePies]
#23971279 - 12/31/16 04:28 PM (7 years, 30 days ago) |
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I recall him using them, which is what initially sparked my interest in them.But he only pasteurized. When I ran them it was with lime pasteurization and had great results, but I'm wanting to see how they compare when supplemented and sterilized like you would with sawdust. Especially if they are this cheap! I only stopped using them because of cost and now that I've found this new source they are definitely my cheapest option.
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drake89
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23971469 - 12/31/16 05:58 PM (7 years, 30 days ago) |
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I would mix them with sawdust since csh have terrible moisture holding capacity. It would also fill in voids. You could try adding soy hulls as well.
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MycoFlora
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: drake89]
#23971681 - 12/31/16 07:37 PM (7 years, 30 days ago) |
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Quote:
drake89 said: I would mix them with sawdust since csh have terrible moisture holding capacity. It would also fill in voids. You could try adding soy hulls as well.
I was thinking about going the soy hull route after seeing your results, but they are a little pricey. On a nutritional level, I feel like the csh is pretty high in cellulose and the wheat bran is even higher in protein than soy hulls so I'm excited to give it a go.
Also just found an interesting short write up on this very subject. http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/winr/Ekpo.htm
Good call on thw sawdust. I'll try that out at different rates.
Edited by MycoFlora (12/31/16 07:38 PM)
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Ferather
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23972742 - 01/01/17 11:19 AM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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I have always considered CSH as an additive, rather than a main substrate. How much cheaper is CSH?
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MycoFlora
Farmer


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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: Ferather]
#23972782 - 01/01/17 11:36 AM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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50 dollars for a few tons. I grew on them last season with incredible results. My oysters did 10+ flushed. I am trying to source more affordable bulk sub as I move into the wholesale arena and then this fell right into my lap! Running some tests as we speak I should have some results in the next few weeks.
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Ferather
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23972915 - 01/01/17 12:32 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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CSH is one of the most potent additives for oysters, due to nutritional composition. I have a request if possible, bran vs CSH as an additive with comparison.
I would soon drop bran to CSH if they are better.
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drake89
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23973486 - 01/01/17 04:35 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
MycoFlora said: 50 dollars for a few tons. I grew on them last season with incredible results. My oysters did 10+ flushed. I am trying to source more affordable bulk sub as I move into the wholesale arena and then this fell right into my lap! Running some tests as we speak I should have some results in the next few weeks.
That is real cheap! They are 180 a ton last I checked.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: Ferather]
#23973810 - 01/01/17 06:22 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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That is real cheap! They are 180 a ton last I checked.
Yea I was very stoked. I think the guy is cutting me a very good deal. Best price on any bulk sub besides fuel pellets I've seen so far.
Quote:
Ferather said: CSH is one of the most potent additives for oysters, due to nutritional composition. I have a request if possible, bran vs CSH as an additive with comparison.
I would soon drop bran to CSH if they are better.
I will try a batch out of bran vs csh on fuel pellets next round for you my man.
Here is the first small batch.
 35 lbs cotton seed hulls 12 lbs fuel pellets 8 lbs wheat bran 41 lbs water
makes 16 6lb bags. Hereeeee we go!
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Gr0wer
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23973877 - 01/01/17 06:43 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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Lots of cotton growers by me. Going to have to look into a local source, probably going to be cheaper than my $15 sacks of soybean.
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drake89
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: Gr0wer]
#23973961 - 01/01/17 07:13 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
Gr0wer said: Lots of cotton growers by me. Going to have to look into a local source, probably going to be cheaper than my $15 sacks of soybean.
got to factor in other stuff like yield %. substrate cost is pretty easy to justify if the yields are better per lb or sq ft. Say CSH are $9 per bag and soy hulls are $15, if the yields are 2x per dry lb on SBH vs CSH, then you get say $200 more mushrooms for $6 more substrate. at least that's how I look at it. I can get sawdust by the dumptruck load from my neighbor for $50 but I drive 2 hours for wood pellets and pay way more per ton. because the product isn't bioactive (decomposing), and takes less time to sterilize.
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Gr0wer
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: drake89]
#23974030 - 01/01/17 07:43 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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Yea i was considering getting some local mulch but ive been considering contacting a pellet mill 4 hours away in Albuquerque and seeing if they can do a run of pecan or some other hardwood for me.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: drake89]
#23974032 - 01/01/17 07:44 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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Very sound logic and I actually agree. But if the csh are THIS cheap it's pretty economical to go that route. Also, that's what I'm attempting to test with supplementing the csh and comparing the yield% to folks like yourself who use sbh. What is your typical 1st flush with sbh? 20%?
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drake89
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23974053 - 01/01/17 07:49 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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up to 50% usually around 30% on average, like i've had some 3lb clusters off 6.5lb bags. they weren't totally blown out either, still had curled caps. it's pretty hard to get great yields in a mixed grow room, since you want the bags soaking wet until they start pinning.
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MycoFlora
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: drake89]
#23974111 - 01/01/17 08:15 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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Holy shit dude! Wow. I had no idea sbh packed that big of a punch. With a higher percentage of bran in the csh mix, aren't they nutritionally comparable sub mixes?
Edited by MycoFlora (01/01/17 08:16 PM)
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drake89
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23974198 - 01/01/17 08:57 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
MycoFlora said: Holy shit dude! Wow. I had no idea sbh packed that big of a punch. With a higher percentage of bran in the csh mix, aren't they nutritionally comparable sub mixes?
probably pretty close, bran is almost the same N% as SBH ,it's more expensive tho.
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MycoFlora
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: drake89]
#23974241 - 01/01/17 09:16 PM (7 years, 29 days ago) |
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Really? I get 50lbs for $10. Guess I'm getting lucky with my sources lately. I'll have to check the price of sbh, although last time I checked they didn't carry them.
And Gr0wer- Where I used to get mine they were $8 for a 30lb sack. I think you only get good prices if you buy per ton.
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MorePies
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Re: Supplemented Cotton Seed Hulls [Re: MycoFlora]
#23974631 - 01/01/17 11:45 PM (7 years, 28 days ago) |
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In terms of carbon and protein sources, CSH is a base substrate not a supplement, as it's only 5% protein. SBH is a combo of both as it has 13% protein and 38% crude fiber. For comparison, wheat straw has 4% protein and 41% fiber.
Check out feedipedia, there is a basic nutrient breakdown for all of this stuff.
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