Fungi – Symbiosis Agriculture

Fungi makes nutrients available for plants

There are 100 000 known types of fungi and perhaps a million that are yet to be discovered. In comparison to bacteria, fungi can grow in in length,doesn’t need a film of water and can transport nutrients. Fungi can form enormous subsoil networks. These fungal networks allow also other organisms to exchange nutrition and information.

Fungi transforms soil by holding it together and even by combining minerals to create new elements like Weddelite (CaC2O4-2H2O) and Calcite (CaCO3). These elements have Carbon in them which means that they are a potential long term Carbon storage.

Low fungi/bacteria ratios are often observed in intensively cultivated soil. Low fungi/soil ratio may lead to increase in low quality weed species. Higher amount of fungi in the biomass of soil also correlates positively with more efficient soil carbon sequestration. Fungi can increase water in the soil by breaking down organic matter.

Fungi feeds on complex carbons like brown grass, cellulose, lignin, chitin, stubble, straw, fish hydrolusate, humates, biochar and woodship.

Mycorrhizal-Network-Illustration (Sciencemag.org) — Mycyhorrhizal network exchanges information and nutrion in between trees (ScienceMag)

Mycorrhizal Fungi – the soil’s internet

Mycorrzhizal network links underground organisms together in sharing nutrients and information. Without Mycorrhizal fungi, plants do not obtain the quantities and kinds of nutrients they need for their best performance. Mycorrhizal fungi can increase a tree’s root surface area by 1000%.

The fungal networks can exploit Phosphorus which is often in inmobile form and inaccessible for plants. Even when applied as fertilizer, Phosphorus becomes inavaible for plants within seconds. Mycorrhizal fungi also free up Copper, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Iron for plant’s use.

A study by Ren Zen Zand in 2010 found that tomatoes used AMF network to communicate a presence of a pathogen called Alternaria and to improve their immunity.

Certain modern agricultural practices have contributed to loss of MN. Tillage can slice Mycorrhizal Networks while high salt index fertilizers dehydrate the mycelium. Industrial DAP/MAP fertilizers can burn MN. Nematicides are especially harmful to mycorrhizal fungi.

Mycorrhizal fungi can increase a tree's root area by 1000%

Trichoderma

Trichoderma has the ability to control numerous foliar, root, and fruit pathogens and even invertebrates such as nematodes. they also have the ability to ameliorate a wide range of abiotic stresses, and some of them can also alleviate physiological stresses such as seed aging. They can also enhance nutrient uptake in plants and can substantially increase nitrogen use efficiency in crops.

Furthermore, some strains of Trichoderma have abilities to improve photosynthetic efficiency and probably respiratory activities of plants. All of these capabilities are a consequence of their abilities to reprogram plant gene expression, probably through activation of a limited number of general plant pathways.

The changes in gene expressions improve the plant’s growth and immunity. One trichoderma was found to decrease the nitrogen need of corn crops by 30-40%

Unlike crop chemicals, trichoderma provides long lasting protection against the pathogens.

Benefits of Trichoderma for soil and plant health

Humus creation

Attacks disease organisms like rhizoctonia, phytophtora, pythium, alterneria, xanthhomonas etc.

Outcompetes pathogegens by starving their Iron supply

Stimulates root and shoot growth

Improves plant immunity

Makes phosphorus more available for plants

Improves Nitrogen efficiency

Facilitates signaling in between different soil organisms

Produces secondary metabolites