For years, many farmers have applied fungicides to battle against certain
species of fungi that devastate their crops. While this method has appeared
necessary for years, a revival is occurring where farmers are looking to work
with nature in place of a “no-hold barred” war against it. Indeed, it is
possible (and profitable) to use soil biology to fight pathogenic fungi and to unlock
the stored nutrients in the soil and secure fertility naturally.

I have recently returned from Southern Oregon where I visited Mycorrhizal
Applications, located in Grants Pass,
Oregon. This company was founded
by scientist Dr. Mike Amaranthus who studied soil biology for over 20 years at Oregon State
University. This company believes
that a diverse and healthy web of soil microbes is the key to the future of
fertilizer. Thus, Mycorrhizal Applications distributes beneficial bacteria inoculants
and researches and produces significant quantities of specialty-fungal inoculants.
This is no fringe practice as is demonstrated by their international consumer
base.

In the Dryland Demonstration in Willits, CA,
we too are planning on using mycorrhizal inoculants to support our grain crop
as the fungi mineralize phosphorous, calcium, and iron provide and transport it
to the roots our wheat. These fungi additionally help the plant obtain and
retain water (crucial for dry farming). To apply these microbes we will coat
our grain seed with fungal spores and then broadcast the wheat into the soil.
This concept may be new to a lot of people and so the following blog is dedicated
to addressing:

"What Are Mycorrhizae?"

The word "mycorrhizae" literally
means "fungus-roots" and defines the close mutually beneficial
relationship between specialized soil fungi (mycorrhizal fungi) and plant
roots.

About 95% of the world’s land plants form the mycorrhizal
relationship in their native habitats. It is estimated that mycorrhizal fungal
filaments explore hundreds to thousands more soil volume compared to roots
alone.

Benefits include:

• Improved nutrient and water
  uptake
• Improved root growth
• Improved plant growth and
  yield
• Reduced transplant shock
• Reduced drought stress

In some cases, the fungi live inside the root (endo-mycorrhizal) and in other
cases it lives on the outside of the root (ecto-mycorrhizal). In both
instances, the organism is capable of providing nutrients and water necessary
for plant growth. In turn, the plant (via photosynthesis) provides necessary
sugars to sustain the growth of the fungi.

Follow
this link to read the FAQ
section from Mycorrhizal Applications where you will learn more about these
exciting creatures that are capable of unlocking the fertility of the soil naturally.