Value add

Today’s grower faces three major problems that can be solved by judicious use of mycorrhizae: Fertilizer shortages and increased costs, water shortages and increased costs and labor shortages and increased costs. 

Growers have faced fertilizer cost increases due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  

“So much fertilizer was mined out of those countries,” says Blair Busenbark, sales account manager with Mycorrhizal Applications. “Anything mined is a finite resource, so it’s causing disruption and raising prices.” 

The war is not ending tomorrow, and even when it does end, the disruptions will continue for an extended period of time. 

The core benefit of mycorrhizae is working to expand the root absorptive area of a plant. It is better able to pull in more of the nutrients and the water in the rhizosphere than the roots or root hairs on their own. Whether it’s a controlled-release fertilizer, a liquid fertilizer or an organic feed, the mycorrhizae is better able to capture the nutrients than the plant alone. As fertilizer prices increase, that benefit becomes even more valuable.

Mycorrhizae hyphae are more effective at nutrient uptake for a few reasons. First, size. The root hair only goes out a few millimeters from the root. Mycorrhizae hyphae are about 1/10 the diameter of a root hair, and they’re able to extend nearly two feet. That means that whether they’re in a ball-and-burlap situation, a landscape or even a container, they can access more of the water and nutrients.  

Second, they can absorb nutrients around the whole length of the hyphae. Roots or root hairs can only absorb along the tip. Third, they can move the nutrients at a faster rate. They can pull both soluble and insoluble nutrients forms from the soil.  

The release curves of controlled-release fertilizers are often temperature dependent. Mycorrhizae is able to capture more of the nutrients released by the fertilizer and make it readily available when necessary. 

“The mycorrhizae can also store nutrients in times of excess and then release it when it needs it, and basically the plant controls that relationship,” Busenbark says. “So when the plant says ‘I need more phosphorus’ the mycorrhizae with it can pull from the stores or it can go out into the soil and source that phosphorus, bring it into the plant and make it available.” 

The second major problem growers face is water dependency. Whether they pull it from a natural source or they pay for it, it’s getting more expensive. Irrigating inefficiently is costing growers much more than it used to, and many nurseries can’t pump enough water for their needs. Busenbark says that mycorrhizae can help by giving the plants a buffer. When plants wilt, it’s a sign of stress. When they’re stressed, they’re vulnerable to opportunistic pathogens or insects. 

“If they can go 24, 36, 48 hours longer before they wilt, that gives the growers that buffer they need to be able to access the water and be able to apply that water to the plant,” he says. “Ultimately, having to water the plants less over the summer reduces their costs, both with labor and energy associated with irrigation.” 

Again, the hyphal network is the key. It acts as a natural repository, storing the water, then releasing it when the plant requests it, before it goes into wilt. 

The third factor impacting growers is the labor issue. Whether it’s automation or better utilization of human labor, mycorrhizae can play a role in using the labor you have more effectively. For instance, Busenbark says plants, liners or plugs grown with mycorrhizae are fuller and more uniform. That means production can run more smoothly, as growers can apply one procedure to an entire block of plants instead of needing to provide extra touches or special care.  

For more: www.mycorrhizae.com