Biostimulants and the Fungi

We often look at dirt or soil as something simply “Earth” or some sort of non-living organism. Not many people think of soil health and how it impacts them. Soil is made of organic and inorganic compounds, a great big party of living organisms (Bacteria, Fungi, Nematode, and Protozoa), minerals, and carbon. Its only been in the recent years have scientists acknowledged the impact soil integrity and health have on the Environment, we usually only considered how soil would impact farmers. To understand the function of Bio-stimulants such as Fungi, we would first need to understand the “Soil Food Web” or “Soil Biome” and how microorganisms, plants, and animals all live harmoniously and create a thriving ecosystem. Analyzing soil biome we can see the biology of organisms breaking down organic material and releasing bioavailable nutrients for plants to uptake when they needed at vital vegetative developmental steps. A healthy soil biology provides a number of other added benefits such as protection from pests, diseases, drought, erosion, and flooding.

Poor Agricultural Practices such as over fertilization, salting/pesticides, herbicides, ploughing/tilling, and excessive watering has led unbalance in arid land, as a result plants and crops we grow struggle and require more and more of the “Poor Agricultural Practices” (Fertilizers, ploughing, etc). These practices kill off larger organisms such as fungi and Protozoya which results in a system breakdown, nutrients being no longer available to plants, and protection from diseases and pests compromised.

1. Fertilization - Often leads to “Salting the Earth” and high soil salinity.

2. Pesticides - Kills off beneficial insects and impacts the food chain

3. Herbicides - Leads to “Salting the Earth” and high soil salinity.

4. Ploughing/Tilling - Leads to destruction of soil structure and compaction.

5. Excessive Watering - Due to poor soil structure and shallow roots more water is needed, this leads to Fertilizer Run off and Soil Erosion.

Fig 1. Soil Food Web USDA

By restoring a healthy Soil Biome and a maintaining a proper Food Web, we can reduce the reliance on Chemical Fertilizers, Pesticides, Herbicides, excessive watering, and depth of ploughing. This means farmers reduce operating costs in chemical inputs while optimizing yield production by as much as 200%. Now that we have some understanding of soil biology, let us take a look at how Fungi can help provide nutrients in the form of “Biostimulants” which are natural processes the benefit the nutrient uptake and tolerance to abiotic stress. By relieving abiotic stress, the plant can continue to grow and provide a better return on investment (higher yield with less material input). Fungi help harvest and breakdown sand/minerals, which contains vital minerals and inorganic nutrients plants require precisely when they need it, maximizing yields. Another interesting benefit of Fungi, is how they produce CO2 so plants can photosynthesis and grow green! Looking at how vital fungal networks are, no wonder it may be the key to combating climate change throughout the world! Fungi are remarkable creatures and have evolved over billions of years to shape life on Earth.

Several existential crises we’re experiencing due to Climate Change that Fungi can help resolve.

1. Soil Erosion: Currently, human-induced soil degradation affects 34 per cent (around 1,660 million hectares), of agricultural land.

   “Generating three centimeters of top soil takes 1,000 years, and if current rates of degradation continue all of the world's top soil could be gone within 60 years"
   -UN FAO

2. Ecosystem Collapse: 57% Decline in insect populations since 1989 and the toll of Ecosystems due to heavy use of Pesticides.
   “If insect species losses cannot be halted, this will have catastrophic consequences for both the planet’s ecosystems and for the survival of mankind,”
   -Francisco Sánchez-Bayo

3. Climate Change: Green House Gas emissions from World wide agriculture accounts for a staggering 24%, and this only accounts for livestock, agricultural soil, and food production. The largest Living Organism that sequesters carbon is a giant Armillaria ostoyae in 1998, believed to be 2,400 to 8,650 years old and as big as 965 Hectares or 1,665 football fields.
   ”Agriculture, deforestation, and other land-use changes have been the second-largest contributors of GHG after fossil fuels”
   -IPCC (2014). Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change
   

Fig 1. Root Systems of Natural Healthy Soil Biome vs Agricultural Biome.

At Shroom Stop, our technology has far reaching implications in all aspects of life and its quite scary that we needed to develop such technology to combat these crises we’re facing today: Heat Waves, Flooding, Fires, Food Shortage, etc.

I am quite lucky to have worked in many innovative industries, where I can build upon my experiences in order to develop technology that can positively impact all life on Earth.

Before I finish off my thoughts, I should provide some visual aid or pictures to demonstrate the impact simple microorganisms have on plants, Fig 2. This picture summarizes quite nicely the challenges we’re going to be facing in the future if we continue down the path of self-destruction.

Summary of Healthy Soil Biology:

1. Increases Crop Yield

2. Decrease need for Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Herbicides.

3. Carbon Sequestration

4. Healthy and thriving Ecosystem

References:
USDA
UN FAO