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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@gilanet.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Mycorrhizae Creates Drought-Resistant Plants
  • Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 22:22:00 -0600

Mycorrhizae Creates Drought-Resistant Plants
_______________________________________________________

Most of the articles and research about soil biology focus on plant nutrition
- how mycorrhizal fungi greatly boost the ability of plants to uptake
nutrients. Indeed, an efficient mycorrhizal plant requires far less
fertilizer. A light application of dry organic low-analysis fertilizer at
planting time is typically enough feeding for a full season of annual plants.

Of perhaps equal or even greater importance is the ability of
biologically-active soils to hold moisture. The millions of tiny root threads
of beneficial fungi extend out from their host plant roots and either
separate clay platelets or bind together sand particles, depending on the
soil type. This results in soil that does not become soggy in the case of
clay, or clumps together a moisture-retaining bio-mass in the case of loose
sand. For either type of soil, the end result is ideal for keeping a plant
alive during drought conditions - a survival tactic that the plants/fungi
developed over many millions of years in order to survive low-rainfall years.

We humans can use this to our advantage. As irrigation water becomes scarcer
(and in some areas it may become very scarce in the foreseeable future) and
more expensive, pressure will build to conserve water. For every growing
situation, from golf courses to gardens to field crops and especially lawns,
it will become important to cut back on watering.

A chemically-fed plant that lacks soil-conditioning mycorrhizal fungi also
lacks drought resistance. A few days without water makes the plant's leaves
go into wilting status in a desperate attempt to retain water within its
system. If water is not provided in large regular amounts by the human
caretaker, the plant dies.

Of course, watering all the time also washes away chemical fertilizers (which
then contaminate underground drinking water). This heavy watering routine
creates the need for frequent doses of "plant food". Unless you happen to be
in the employ of a chemical fertilizer company or have a lawn-feeding
business, this is not a good thing.

In my own garden, I hold off watering until I begin to see mid-day wilting.
If some of the plants wilt slightly in the late afternoon, that's OK and
normal. For me, this is part of obtaining maximum yields - forcing the
mycorrhizal fungi to go into a higher gear in order to sustain the plants
during what they feel is a drought situation. It's a little trick I play on
them, and an effective one!

This is working with nature, not fighting it.

Cheers, my friends. Good growing.

Don Chapman
President
BioOrganics, Inc.
______________________
BioOrganics Inc. News
5/13/04
______________________

Past BioOrganics newsletters are available by clicking on the link
"Newsletters Archive" at:

http://www.bio-organics.com




  • [Livingontheland] Mycorrhizae Creates Drought-Resistant Plants, Tradingpost, 05/14/2004

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