Soil Friendly Fungi

For thousands of years, fungi have been helping farmers. These quiet little helpers have been improving water and nutrient absorption, while getting rid of disease. Unfortunately phosphorus rich fertilizers, even though they increase crop yields and fight disease, inhibit the growth of these friendly organisms in plant nurseries. Fortunately, organic fertilizers don?EUR??,,????'???t prevent the colonization of mycorrhizal fungi, but the plants don?EUR??,,????'???t grow as large or as quickly. Many organic fertilizer manufacturers are now instructing users to put more of their products on than previously had been suggested. The plants can still grow normally, but the mycorrhizae can also thrive. At the Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, plant pathologist Robert G. Linderman is one of the few scientists studying all the factors that affect mycorrhizial growth. He is also looking at other things that nurseries add to the soil such as peat moss and compost. Some growers are adding coir (coconut fibers). Unlike peat moss. coir has a good uniform consistency, absorbs water better, and holds more nutrients and encourages mycorrhizal fungi. However, again, it doesn?EUR??,,????'???t produce such large plants. Compost can also be problematic. Fresh compost has a higher level of phosphorus than mature compost. Too much phosphorus inhibits the fungi?EUR??,,????'???s growth. Dr. Linderman states, ?EUR??,,????'??Growers just need to think ahead of time what will happen when a particular product is used, since they wouldn?EUR??,,????'???t want to add an ingredient that would suppress the beneficial fungi.?EUR??,,????'??