Fungi and Soil

By: Andrea Achterhoff, Dylan Drake, and Natasha Sokolow

Background Information

Overall, soil health is dependent on the biotic community living within the mineral soil. The soil biota is composed of bacteria, archaea, macroinvertebrates, plants, and fungi- which is our focus. In soil, fungi can perform a variety of functions such as increasing nutrient uptake in plants, working as a biocontrol agent, reducing erosion by improving soil aggregation, increasing organic matter content, and improving overall soil quality. Soil fungi are also able to form connections with the roots of plants and have a symbiotic relationship. They are an important component of soil health and thus can be effective in improving poor or degraded soils.

Our Goal

Our goals are to educate and inform people about fungi relationships in soil and how this impacts ecosystems and agricultural practices. We intend to complete this goal by creating an implementation plan for the Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) on campus so that they can improve the soil health of their agricultural fields. Creating a plan for a local resource like the SAP paves the way for sustainable practices to be implemented both locally and globally.

The triple-bottom-line analysis addresses three aspects that are necessary to reflect on to evaluate a sustainable issue. When the social, environmental, and economic aspects of a problem are considered, the approach to solving the problem is well-rounded and can improve on all aspects instead of focusing on one.

Scope of the Project

People

Fungi-soil interactions are an important part of educating people about their environmental impacts and how individuals can influence soil health right in their own backyards

Planet

Fungi can help rebuild degraded or poor-quality soils by increasing plant nutrient uptake, increasing soil aggregation, and increasing the organic matter content

Prosperity

Fungi in soils help improve prosperity by reducing the need for soil additives such as fertilizers and pesticides, as well as potentially increasing yields

Sustainable Agriculture Project

At the level of the SAP, soil quality is extremely high due to soil-building efforts that have been undertaken in the previous years.

Local

Locally, soils have often been degraded due to intensive commercial agriculture. This is especially important in Allendale because there is so much agricultural land.

Global

Soil fungi have a global impact and help to create ecosystems that are more resilient to climate change and prevent nutrient loss. Globally, soil degradation is a huge issue. Studies have shown that a majority of soils across the globe are degraded.

Implementation Plan

Implementation will be a 2 part process, including inoculation of the soils at the SAP with fungi, as well as beginning education programs at the SAP about the benefits of fungi in agri- and horticultural systems. Education efforts will include more typical, 'classroom' type programs, as well as hands-on programs designed to improve understanding about the use of fungi in soils and how this can be beneficial to anyone trying to build the health of their soil.

In regards to budget, there are three proposed solutions- one, on a wider scale, is AMF inoculation, this would be an inoculant sprayed over a field and would produce no fruiting bodies. On a smaller scale- like the hoop houses, Stropharia rugosoannulata, or the red winecap mushroom, could be innoculated via sawdust spawn, and would additionally produce fruiting bodies. These two methods would represent a one-time cost, as they would be very easy to employ and the mycelium would continue to thrive within the soil for years to come. The final proposal is a safer method of pest control using a Beauveria Bassiana based mycoinsecticide- which could offer a safer, fungi-based method of pest control.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculant: https://www.naturesseed.com/planting-aids/am-120-standard-mycorrhizal-inoculant/

Stropharia Rugosoannulata inoculant: https://www.fieldforest.net/product/wine-cap-stropharia-rugoso-annulata

Beauveria Bassiana powder: https://www.arbico-organics.com/product/botanigard-22wp-beauveria-bassiana-mycoinsecticide

Types of fungus to utilize to build soil health

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)

This class of fungi is extremely beneficial in crop-growing soils. Following inoculation, AMF has been shown to increase crop yields substantially. It also has been shown to improve the rooting and establishment of plants, increase nutrient cycling, improve soil aggregation and structure, increase plant stress tolerance and enhance the overall diversity of the surrounding plant community.

Stropharia Rugosoannulata (Red Winecap)

This fungus has one of the quickest digestion times of any similar fungi, transforming wood debris into nutrient-rich humus in a matter of seasons. The increase in the organic matter content of the soil is highly beneficial to soil structure and water retention. The Red Winecap's mycelial network has been shown to distribute nutrients more evenly between plant life.

Want to grow fungi in your backyard?

A Quick Guide on Mushroom Logs!

They are relatively easy to start and are a great educational experience for people interested in growing their own mushrooms!

More information can be found at their website:

https://cascadiamushrooms.com/pages/growing-mushrooms-at-home

Our Team

Andrea Achterhoff

Hi! My name is Andrea and I am majoring in both NRM and Biology as GVSU, with a minor in environmental studies. My dream is to become a zoo keeper, and I am passionate about conservation and animal reintroduction.

Dylan Drake

My name is Dylan Drake and I am a Junior studying Environmental Science and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Geospatial Technology. I'm very interested in the potential of a mycological approach to the worlds soil health crisis.

Natasha Sokolow

My name is Natasha and I'm senior studying Natural Resource Management and minoring in Environmental Studies. I am passionate about sustainable agriculture practices and humans' relationship to the natural world.