mycorrhizea, mycelium, fungus, and roots
Lifting up the mulch layer in a healthy forest reveals a network of white stuff. Its appearance varies from that of spider webs, to fuzzy mold or cookie'n'cream ice cream, etc. I've heard there could be miles of myco string right under your feet. I had an invasion of this stuff in a portion of my garden that I prepared with forest duff mixed with chopped straw and composted wood. The plants went crazy over it and I realized that these white, subsurface occurrances could exponentially affect plant vigor in relation to soil nutrients. Any REAL knowledge on the topic?
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applestar
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Try [url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NPI8_-omzvsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=mycelium+running&client=firefox-a#v=onepage&q=&f=false]Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets[/url].
Also his website: [url=https://fungi.com/]Fungi Perfecti[/url]
And I guess you can't talk about him without mentioning his TED talk: [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20264&highlight=]6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World[/url]
If you're interested, I've just started getting into
/obsessing about 
adding mushrooms to my suburban Permaculture garden. Here's [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20130&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0]my thread[/url] on the subject.
We'll talk.
Also his website: [url=https://fungi.com/]Fungi Perfecti[/url]
And I guess you can't talk about him without mentioning his TED talk: [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20264&highlight=]6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World[/url]
If you're interested, I've just started getting into
/obsessing about adding mushrooms to my suburban Permaculture garden. Here's [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20130&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0]my thread[/url] on the subject. We'll talk.
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paul wheaton
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That's the magic stuff that makes a polycuture work so that you don't have to irrigate or fertilize. A carrot growing next to 20 other plants exudes "carrot-ness" which the mycelium takes up and trades with the other plants in exchange for sugar (the mycelium has no green leaves - no way to make sugar - but is an excellent trader). Each bit of sugar from other plants comes with a bit of water and essence of the other plants - stuff the carrot would like.
The n-fixers trade excess N. The calcium accumulators (usually with a deep taproot) trade calcium. Etc.
The n-fixers trade excess N. The calcium accumulators (usually with a deep taproot) trade calcium. Etc.
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gixxerific
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There is a nice short summary on the website for dr ingham's soil testing company, soil foodweb inc. Click on the sfi approach option and have a read. It's a great overview from a soil biologist's point of view.
I think the arbuscular mycorrhizae craze is mostly marketing (only worth it if the relationship is obligatory), but the general idea is great. Even better is the idea of knowing where th soil balance is in terms of fungi v bacteria. Weeds like mostly bacterial, brassicas a little more fungal, tomatoes more fungal than that, and so on until you have a forest.
So I am saving up for a microscope, and hope to know for sure instead of guessing based on the weeds.
I think the arbuscular mycorrhizae craze is mostly marketing (only worth it if the relationship is obligatory), but the general idea is great. Even better is the idea of knowing where th soil balance is in terms of fungi v bacteria. Weeds like mostly bacterial, brassicas a little more fungal, tomatoes more fungal than that, and so on until you have a forest.
So I am saving up for a microscope, and hope to know for sure instead of guessing based on the weeds.
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The Helpful Gardener
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Great question mostaza!
I think the leading expert would have to be Paul Stamets, who AS has already recommended. A lifelong body of work and some cutting edge research.
Dr, Mike Amaranthus is another key name here; I would highly recommend looking at his research and company. [url=https://www.mycorrhizae.com/index.php?cid=997&]The research speaks for itself[/url] Toil, you should check this too...
Toil's assessment is correct; the path of soil succession is a one way street from bacterial to fungal. The tendency of soil is to become more fungal as long as natural cycles (water, return of carbon to the soil, maintenance of aggregation and porosity) are observed. Accidents always happen (fire flood, drought tilling) and push us back towards bacterial soils, but if we grow our soil first, and let it grow plants, it is a self sustaining ecosystem, especially for fungi. Dr. Ingham's work and the work of the others mentioned here should give you a solid background in soil mycology, and we will help where we can...
HG
I think the leading expert would have to be Paul Stamets, who AS has already recommended. A lifelong body of work and some cutting edge research.
Dr, Mike Amaranthus is another key name here; I would highly recommend looking at his research and company. [url=https://www.mycorrhizae.com/index.php?cid=997&]The research speaks for itself[/url] Toil, you should check this too...
Toil's assessment is correct; the path of soil succession is a one way street from bacterial to fungal. The tendency of soil is to become more fungal as long as natural cycles (water, return of carbon to the soil, maintenance of aggregation and porosity) are observed. Accidents always happen (fire flood, drought tilling) and push us back towards bacterial soils, but if we grow our soil first, and let it grow plants, it is a self sustaining ecosystem, especially for fungi. Dr. Ingham's work and the work of the others mentioned here should give you a solid background in soil mycology, and we will help where we can...
HG