Purchasing mycorrhizae

[snugglekitten]

Is it worth the money?

Since it doesn't create fruiting bodies, I feel I have no way to measure the amount that is in the soil.

Does anyone buy this, and if so, does it increase yield?

[ChrisK]

From Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott ("The Garden Professor"):

Sylvia Hacker asked me to talk a little bit about putting microbes in soil -- things like mycorrhizae and fertilizer spiked with "beneficial microbes". Well, it's like this: It's true that some research has found that certain specific types of microbes may be helpful in specific instances, however, as a general rule, adding microbes from off the shelf products isn't useful. The reason is that usually the microbes you purchase off of the shelf aren't even alive. Furthermore, even if the the microbes that you purchase off the shelf are alive you've got to ask yourself whether you're putting them in a location where they can thrive. As an example, what if you take a thousand people and drop them into the middle of the Sahara desert? Would they build a city? How many would even make it out alive? Probably none. Same thing with microbes. If you put microbes into a location where they can't thrive, they won't. A better choice is to just add compost -- that will make your soil more amenable to beneficial microbes and help your soil more in the long run.


Long Story Short -- As things sit now, fertilizer spiked with mycorrhizae and products based on beneficial microbes seem to be more of a marketing tactic than useful amendments for your garden or lawn.


And:


http://www.gardenmyths.com/mycorrhiz...lant-products/

[snugglekitten]

Thanks for the links, it seems to confirm some of what I thought already.

[drew51]

I buy them from the manufacturer. I agree I would not buy them in the store. Results have been remarkable. I will always use them. What a difference on my blueberries. Fantastic! It's estimated that spores can live for centuries, so I would always buy spore form.
Some bacteria estimates of spore viability are 6 million years. Fungi are more sensitive. They could die if stored poorly. Why I buy them direct. I'm totally sold on the product. It depends what I want to grow. I like to grow the tropical plant tomato. No native fungi are compatible with these tropical plants. So I add the tropical fungi that is symbiotic with tomatoes. I add more each year as it will not survive our winters. What sold me on them is the large body of scientific studies that show improvement. Some exceptions, and some plants do not use the fungi. Being a Medical Technologist and having worked with fungi my whole life, I understand them well.
I have seen better growth, but that is not proof. I rely on peer research. That is what convinced me to use them.
I usually don't comment as people believe whatever they want to believe and it's hard to change anybodies mind.
So I pay about 6 dollars a year to innocuate 250 plants.
http://www.fungi.com/product-detail/...uble-1-oz.html

[Stvrob]

Dont they already live in the soil Naturally?

[RayR]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

From Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott ("The Garden Professor"):

Sylvia Hacker asked me to talk a little bit about putting microbes in soil -- things like mycorrhizae and fertilizer spiked with "beneficial microbes". Well, it's like this: It's true that some research has found that certain specific types of microbes may be helpful in specific instances, however, as a general rule, adding microbes from off the shelf products isn't useful. The reason is that usually the microbes you purchase off of the shelf aren't even alive. Furthermore, even if the the microbes that you purchase off the shelf are alive you've got to ask yourself whether you're putting them in a location where they can thrive. As an example, what if you take a thousand people and drop them into the middle of the Sahara desert? Would they build a city? How many would even make it out alive? Probably none. Same thing with microbes. If you put microbes into a location where they can't thrive, they won't. A better choice is to just add compost -- that will make your soil more amenable to beneficial microbes and help your soil more in the long run.


Long Story Short -- As things sit now, fertilizer spiked with mycorrhizae and products based on beneficial microbes seem to be more of a marketing tactic than useful amendments for your garden or lawn.


And:


http://www.gardenmyths.com/mycorrhiz...lant-products/

Wrong Garden Professor, that's Robert Pavlis
It's funny that those that say adding microbial inoculants don't work are the same people who have never used them.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Stvrob

Dont they already live in the soil Naturally?

Typically only in undisturbed soils with perennials since mycorrhizae need living roots to survive year round. In fallow soil and tilled soils—no way.

[Redbaron]

Well I have used them. I got tremendous benefit. Although I admit, after a few years I expect the benefit to drop off as the native soil health returns.

For the price? Well I use this: MycoGrow. Then instead of trying to inoculate the whole garden, I just inoculate the seedlings. That means for a very small price I get the full benefit of knowing all my seedlings have a good start and have much better drought/heat resistance that those not inoculated. I grew over 500 tomatoes and peppers last year. The cost per plant is minimal.

On the other hand, if you grow in perfect soil with all the fertility and water at optimal conditions, you probably won't need it at all.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by RayR

Wrong Garden Professor, that's Robert Pavlis

The quote was from the Garden profs FB page. The link was to Pavlis' page.

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/.../Hor.../Myths/Mycorrhizae.pdf

[heirloomtomaguy]

I use it every year. I sprinkle a teaspoon into each tomato hole and have noticed a major difference in growth and production. If i did not notice a difference i wouldn't spend 30 bucks a bag for it.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

The quote was from the Garden profs FB page. The link was to Pavlis' page.

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/.../Hor.../Myths/Mycorrhizae.pdf

Two garden professors that have no first hand experience with mycorrhizal inoculants. Linda Chalker-Scott writes about almost everything in terms of her specialty—landscape perennials. What does that have to do with tender annuals for most of us? We grow vegetables.

[ChrisK]

The no first hand experience comment aside, that's a good question, Ray. I'd be curious if there is good published data on this to date.

There is much we don't know and "biologicals" is a hot area of research.

[Redbaron]

"While AMFs are not a panacea, they do have their niche and they do work," Davies said. "As we continue to apply BMP to improve pesticide, fertilization and water usage, there is every reason that the 'niche' of incorporating AMF - as a part of the system - will continue to increase."

Dr. Fred T Davies Jr.
Dept. Horticulture Sci., Texas A&M University,

As far as the studies? There are loads of published studies. I don't see the scientific basis for your skepticism.

[Lindalana]

Community gardens that I use, get tilled spring and fall- not my choice. Considering that last year I have used Mycogrow, Mycorrhizae BioOrganics from Smiling Gardener site, compost tea brewed weekly from KIS products on KIS brewer I would have expected better testing results in the fall...
however amount of usable minerals during fall testing was on a low side, which showed indirectly that active microbial life was not that great... I was disappointed, am going to repeat all the same this year after adjustments I made to soil. I sure will need my microbes as I have added Sulfur after testing.

[ChrisK]

The other thing I was just wondering about is the genetics on the plant side. I would be surprised if there are not significant differences between varieties as far as response to different microorganisms.


Nobody is arguing that microorganisms don't play a huge role in plant growth.