The Fungi Beneath Us

Mycorrhizal fungi can be found in some of the most naturally fertile soils on earth, symbiotically interacting with the root systems of plants to obtain sugars and carbon, and in return extending the root system of plants to increase nutrient uptake well beyond the capability of the original roots alone.

Due to the fine microscopic hair-like structure of mycorrhizae, this help to create a "soil web", or in other words soil that resists compaction, retains water, and spreads nutrients evenly where host plants are found. Additionally, mycorrhizae sequester a considerable amount of carbon back into the soil using glomalin, and together with humic acid work to reduce soil erosion and nutrient run-off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza


I decided to use the Mykos 60 inoculant product, to introduce beneficial Mycorrhizal fungi into my garden soil. Here is the MSDS sheet and overview of Mykos.

Many natural gardeners purport the benefits of this product, because it is purely endo (in roots) mycorrhizae and because it is so easy to apply when preparing your transplant target site. I believe, when combined with the proper amount of humus, microbiological bacteria, and trace elements, Mycorrhizal fungi approximate natural conditions far beyond what a seasonal compost layer or mulch decomposition can provide. The amount of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides is reduced by healthier plant root establishments, primarily due to the inclusion of these beneficial fungi.


 

Soil, Compost, Biology

Soil Health = Plant Health

Well finished, biologically active compost is the most effective thing you can do to increase soil fertility in your garden. Healthy soil is the key to healthy plants, and good compost is the first and most important step to maintaining excellent garden soil year to year.

Compost Happens

Like many other natural biological processes, compost generally happens on its own. Without micro-managing it, some shredded newspaper, kitchen scraps, and grass clippings mixed together will produce that holy grail of gardening, the famed "black gold" soil type. Ratios and proper moisture levels may help the process happen faster, but it will still happen given enough time.

What's In There?

Amongst many nutrients, such as nitrogen, potassium, and carbon, there are also beneficial micro-organisms. These creatures are what help to break down unusable elements into forms that plant roots can uptake, and are themselves food for larger organisms such as earthworms, which help the decomposition process as well.

A Living System

Unlike modern big-agro companies would have you think, soil can become a rather self-sustaining resource. It's true that plants take nutrients from the soil, but cover crops can replenish the soil too. In fact, in undisturbed natural environments, foliar cover changes from season to season as necessary, cycling the process of decomposition and revitalization all by itself. Native micro and macro organisms contribute to this process as well, diversifying the ecology of a region and maximizing potential for all involved.



Podgardening.co.nz - short videos packed with tons of good advice about soil and compost
 

 

Need More Data

Went to lunch with a friend, a professor of horticulture. The main take-away is...data, data, data. Hard data on so-called 'natural' soil amendments and their outcomes is really lacking in the crunchy/hippie/re-mineralize movement's contributions to horticulture.

So why isn't this data out there? Or if it is, why isn't it more readily available to academic and industry experts? Here's what I found out on the intarwebs:

Rock Dust

Soil re-mineralization is all about putting back into the soil what has been removed unnaturally (by agricultural means). The idea is that, when plants grow in soils dense with trace minerals

Azomite is a rock dust product that comes from an ancient volcanic eruption in Utah. It contains over 70 trace minerals that are hard to come by in soils that have been used for human purposes over long periods of time. Amongst the list of minerals are (). Conveniently, their website has a list of application specifications, studies, and information. Very transparent, very modern, and very established (even a Wikipedia article).