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In addition to supplementing nutrients, additives can also improve the physical and chemical properties of the culture medium. The commonly used additives mainly include the following eight categories:

(1) Wheat bran, rice bran, corn flour, etc.  Whether using wheat bran or rice bran, ensure it is as fresh as possible. It is best to order directly from a flour mill; do not use feed-grade bran that has been transported over long distances. From a nutritional utilization perspective, fine rice bran is easier for mycelium to fully decompose. The only drawback is that rice bran oxidizes and spoils a week after shelling, making it difficult to store. Therefore, for companies with smaller cultivation scales, it is better to choose easily stored wheat bran instead of rice bran. Currently, commercially available wheat bran comes in red and white varieties, and in large and medium-coarse flakes; their nutritional components are basically the same and can all be used.

Note: In production, red, medium-coarse or large-flake wheat bran is often used because white wheat bran is easily adulterated with corn cob powder, wheat straw powder, etc., which reduces its nutritional content and is difficult to detect. Wheat bran and rice bran can be substituted for each other, and the general dosage is 20%.

Because corn flour has a high nitrogen content, it is used as a yield-enhancing agent in cultivation. Theoretically, corn flour contains biotin, which gives the cultivation bags "staying power." The dosage is 2% to 5% (the finer the better). Do not use too high a proportion, otherwise, it will prolong the vegetative growth stage and delay fruiting.

(2) Sucrose: A carbon source, used at a dosage of 1%.

(3) Gypsum: Mainly used to improve the structure of the culture medium, increase calcium content, and adjust the pH value of the culture medium. The general dosage is 1% to 2%.

(4) Calcium carbonate: The aqueous solution is slightly alkaline. It is often used as a buffering agent and calcium source, and the general dosage is 0.5% to 1%.

(5) Magnesium sulfate: A magnesium salt, the general dosage is 0.03%.

(6) Superphosphate: A type of phosphate fertilizer, which can supplement nutrients and also acts as an ammonia scavenger, eliminating the ammonia smell in the culture medium. The general dosage is 1%. (7) Urea:  Supplements the nitrogen element in the culture medium. The general dosage is 0.1%–0.2%.  Excessive amounts should be avoided to prevent toxicity to the mycelium ("mycelial burning").

(8) Lime: Primarily increases the alkalinity of the culture medium, preventing bacterial contamination, and also increases the calcium content in the culture medium. The general dosage is 1%–4%.

When using auxiliary materials, high-quality raw materials should be selected, and the dosage should be appropriate. When preparing the culture medium, wheat bran, rice bran, corn flour, gypsum, and lime should be mixed evenly with the main ingredients first; auxiliary materials that are easily soluble in water should be dissolved in water first, and then the water should be gradually added to the main ingredients and stirred evenly.