Mychorrizal Fungi - To Use or Not To Use, (as a supplement when planting). - LJN Blog Posts

Despite huge hype internationally and used as a standard introduction into the planting schemes in many countries, mychorrizal fungi's introduction into the UK market place has hardly been a success.
There are many possible reasons, but in fact the introduction of the spores into many products has not even been advertised by the producers, despite the clear benefits of using the supplements in many cases.
It is true that many have been reserved about the widespread use of the fungi - the products have been developed rapidly, when the science is still discovering more and more as to just how amazing the fungi are. As such introducing concentrated high quantities of the fungi into any landscape management regime should be done with caution.

Here in Cornwall, despite the abundance of beautiful and amazing gardens, the soil is inherently poor and indeed often contaminated. The vast majority of Cornwall is underlaid with slate formations and shallow soils, which when disturbed, (as in many development sites), can be very problematic with regards land management, particularly drainage. Huge quantities of soil improver have to be used and chemical fertiliser is seen as a must for many gardeners. As such Mychorrizal fungi can help, we have trialled some of the 'off - the - shelf' products and some of the more specialist products, all of which make a clear difference in the root systems and indeed improve the soils to a significant amount in the immediate surround of the application. With regards the appearance of the plants it is difficult to determine much of a change, but survival rates are considerably higher together with stronger resistance to wind.

However a clear warning - The 'County Forester' made it clear that in light of the recent outbreaks of Phytophora ramorum and kernovia in Cornwall, there is a fear of introducing a product which is mainly produced in the USA and as such due to the incredible nature of the fungal spores, a degree of caution is required in applying the products. There are 'UK' and European mixes available also and it is best to determine the source before application.

Across many parts of Europe it is standard behaviour to use mychorrizal. In Spain particularly the products make a huge difference when 'landscaping' or 'gardening' in desert areas.

In France it is common practice to dip all trees into a mix containing mychorrizal fungi's prior to planting. This has led to some problems, as it it also common practice to stake high up the tree. The roots have all they need; and rarely develop any strength on their own merit. The stakes are removed and the next annual 'once in a lifetime' storm simply fells the tree.

We would advocate the use of mychorrizal fungi wholeheartedly, but this is not a gimmick product the guidelines need to be adhered to strongly, application needs to be kept to a minimum. And it is quite useless to utilise the product if you 'give in' and use a dose of 'miracle grow' or similar prior to your 'In Laws' visit. Chemical applications will kill of the fungi easily.

There is growing evidence that the application of the fungi may 'combat' the nasty fungi's which are rich in the UK, but the research has not yet been completed fully.

The most beneficial use of the fungi as a supplement is when turning land previously heavily managed by 'chemicals' into a new organic regime, but it should only be used in the initial stages.

European Trees

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We plant a lot of bare root trees for customers, and the idea of adding a bit of magic dust to the planting hole to help the trees along is very attractive. Consequently, when i came across one of the suppliers exhibiting at last years Four Oaks show I was very keen to discover exactly what these things do, and what benefits I could expect. Unfortunately, despite my wanting to be convinced that mycorhyza were going to be a benefit, the supplier was completely unable to offer anything approaching clear evidence of exactly what they did, or how they worked. All the evidence that they work seems to be anecdotal, and the guy I spoke to couldn't offer any scientific data or test results to demonstrate their efficacy. So I don't use them - I'd love to, because anything that's going to help a bare root tree get established has got to be good news, but as long as they remain in the "muck and magic" category, they'll stay on the shelf as far as I'm concerned.

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Comments

Nick Steele March 27, 2009 at 6:33pm

We plant a lot of bare root trees for customers, and the idea of adding a bit of magic dust to the planting hole to help the trees along is very attractive. Consequently, when i came across one of the suppliers exhibiting at last years Four Oaks show I was very keen to discover exactly what these things do, and what benefits I could expect. Unfortunately, despite my wanting to be convinced that mycorhyza were going to be a benefit, the supplier was completely unable to offer anything approaching clear evidence of exactly what they did, or how they worked. All the evidence that they work seems to be anecdotal, and the guy I spoke to couldn't offer any scientific data or test results to demonstrate their efficacy. So I don't use them - I'd love to, because anything that's going to help a bare root tree get established has got to be good news, but as long as they remain in the "muck and magic" category, they'll stay on the shelf as far as I'm concerned.
Sustainable Land Management March 27, 2009 at 10:58pm

Thanks for this, this is a clear example of why this stuff is not being used, there is no distinct examples of when it may actually be useful.
Basically we have found that in really poor soil, post industrial or inherent, the mychorrizal isbeneficial if the soil is good, there is absolutely no point. The 'friendly fungi' guys are pretty good, but I would not trust any distributer - also we have always found that reducing the quantities and mixing in good well rotted compost, bio stimulant etc.,. into the mix allows for the fungi to react better. It is also prudent to plant towards the end of the season, as such making the product far too fiddly for commercial usage.
But for those who really want to go the extra mile it can allow for a guarantee on the plants.
John Booth April 4, 2009 at 11:45am

Dare I suggest this is 'American led 'Marketing hype' with little research foundation??
Sustainable Land Management April 5, 2009 at 6:26pm

Yes in many respects i think you are right; but the science is in essence good, I think tweaking will eventually make for a brilliant 'professional only' product for use in specific areas - but this should be predetermined by the industry themselves.
Hamish April 23, 2009 at 2:50pm

The terravent system, which is based on mychorrizal technology suggests that using the system allows for assisting trees to ward off diseases etc.,. The terravent guys seem to be very confident and their system is highly advanced and specific to professional Arboriculture.
Andrew Hugh Dixon May 31, 2009 at 5:36pm

Would I be right in thinking that simply by applying a mulch of well rotted wood chip, one would be introducing the fungi to the soil, as the wood chip will probably be full of the fungal spores/hyphae?...

The mychorrizal associations formed between trees and fungi are truely amazing, so I would love to know where to get some from, especially stuff that doesnt come wixed with NPK.

Am I right in thinking that it is standard practice in commercial forestry to innoclate the seedling rhizospheres with mychorrizae?

Cheers, Andy
Sustainable Land Management June 1, 2009 at 1:51pm

Using a known sourced well rotted mulch will almost certainly allow for a steady colonisation of plants and is particularly effective for fruit trees. Andy Jarman of JFC Monros in Hayle can get a huge variety of the better products, (including the mycospikes - which are my favourite). Commercial foresters have been altering their dips for a while now, including ourselves and dumbing down the application rates, but it does seem to be a closely guarded secret within the industry professionals as to the dips used.
Hamish June 1, 2009 at 5:44pm

Most commercial planters have stopped using a one off product, as above, but are concentrating now on post planting treatment using mychorrizae fungi based applications, but this can be costly and as such is limited to the better stock. I have heard foresters warning against mychorrizal fungi, in fact all other treatments in native broadleaved sites - which is best until a good formula tested by the FC amongst others is available and matches the fungi diversity found in ASNW areas. Might take a while though.
Sustainable Land Management June 2, 2009 at 10:31am

I will try and post up photos of when we have used a mychorrizal based product, endoROOTS, on an area of very very poor quality soil as a method of cheap and fast bioremediation, the area in question quickly reverted to a strong swath of grass and now has plenty of mushrooms on it. Wildflower seeding did not take at all well on the site and the subsequent planting of apple trees have been somewhat lacklustre, but on the whole it was a success.
Andrew Hugh Dixon June 2, 2009 at 5:16pm

I guess whilst immediate effects are important, what will count in the long-term is the longevity of a healthy arboreal ecosystem. And the fungi will have a very important role to play in that, especially with climate change on the way.