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Mushroom Yield Estimator.
Mushroom Yield Estimator
Multi-flush yield projections by species + substrate. Biological efficiency benchmarks. Annual production from N blocks per week.
Biological Efficiency (BE) explained
BE = (fresh mushroom weight) ÷ (dry substrate weight) × 100. A 100% BE means 1 lb fresh mushrooms harvested per 1 lb dry substrate input.
| Species | Typical BE | Substrate cost / lb fresh |
|---|---|---|
| Oyster (any color) | 75-150% | $0.60-1.20 |
| Lion's Mane | 50-100% | $1.20-2.00 |
| Shiitake | 40-100% (over multiple flushes) | $1.00-2.50 |
| King Trumpet | 60-150% | $0.80-1.50 |
| Reishi | 20-40% (slow grower) | $2.50-5.00 |
| Maitake | 30-60% | $2.00-4.00 |
| Turkey Tail | 30-50% | $2.00-3.50 |
Multi-flush yields
Most species produce multiple "flushes" (waves of fruiting) from one block. Each subsequent flush is smaller than the last:
| Species | Typical flushes | Yield distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Oyster | 3-5 | Flush 1: 60% / 2: 25% / 3: 10% / 4: 5% |
| Lion's Mane | 2-3 | Flush 1: 70% / 2: 25% / 3: 5% |
| Shiitake | 3-5 | Flush 1: 50% / 2: 25% / 3: 15% / 4: 10% |
| King Trumpet | 1-2 | Flush 1: 90% / 2: 10% (often single-flush) |
| Reishi | 1 (long fruiting) | Single mature conk over 2-3 months |
Best practice: compost blocks after flush 3 (or after BE plateaus). Diminishing returns + contamination risk increases.
Common failure modes
- Contamination during inoculation. Trichoderma green mold is the most common; outcompetes mycelium in 1-2 weeks. Sterile technique critical.
- Inadequate sterilization. Pressure sterilizer must reach 15 PSI / 121°C for full duration; cool-down without venting. Vent test cycle annually.
- Wrong moisture level in substrate. Too dry = poor colonization. Too wet = bacterial blooms.
- Fruiting room pinning failure. Inadequate FAE (fresh air exchange), wrong humidity, wrong temperature.
- Pest pressure (mushroom flies). Phorid flies + cecid midges destroy crops; sticky cards + airflow + sanitation.
- Power loss during fruiting. Humidity drop = flushes abort; fans down = CO₂ buildup. Backup power critical.
Free under CC BY 4.0. Cite as "OAT Mushroom Yield Estimator (openagriculturetechnology.com)". Yield + BE benchmarks from commercial mushroom industry literature + small-farm case studies.