so here you want some nutes in the casing eh ?
interesting.
It's of my opinion that woodlovers such as P. azurescens benefit from certain microorganisms and beneficial bacteria to induce fruiting. I feel that there's some type of symbiosis taking place between the mycelium and the beneficial bacteria generated from decaying matter. Most fungi need nitrogen to develop. This is very abundant in the atmosphere, though in a different configuration than what the mushrooms need to mature. The bacteria consume organic matter, plant litter, and simple carbon compounds. They release the nutrients in these substances for use by living plants or fungi. Bacteria are particularly important in nitrogen cycling. Free-living bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen, adding it to the soil nitrogen pool. It is then available to both the host and other plants in the near vicinity. Some soil nitrogen is unusable until bacteria convert it to forms that can be easily assimilated. I've had much better success fruiting woodloving Psilocybes with the addition of an unpasteurized casing layer. I use a nutritious unsterile soil for my casing layer and also in my wood chip spawn. In the average soil mix, 5% or more of the soils bacterial population is comprised of actinomycetes. On top of the casing layer, grass seed is planted. This combination is very similar to the natural conditions you'll find azurescens fruiting in nature.
Actinomycetes are organisms related to both fungi and bacteria. They tend to grow slowly as branching filaments, resembling fungi, as their filamentous growth forms mycelial colonies. In the past they have been classified with fungi, they are now commonly grouped with bacteria since they have no nuclear membrane.
Pinning may not be directly related to the presence of acti's, but they may serve a more indirect purpose. By raising the nitrogen levels of the soil, they create a very desirable environment for primordia formation, as well as a rich source of energy. I believe the weather sends the signal that it's time to start fruiting, but the azures may not fruit unless the nitrogen levels are high enough.
http://mycotopia.net...51&d=1157427765http://mycotopia.net...97&d=1159648485
