This winter the Fungi Festival once again came to NSW’s far south coast and helped enlighten many, including myself, of the crucial but often little-known, role that fungi play in keeping our environment, soils and ultimately us,healthy.
According to Dr Sapphire McMullin–Fisher’s workshop Fungi are neither a plant nor an animal but an entity in their own right. Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that play essential roles in ecosystems, particularly in decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients. They belong to their own kingdom, separate from plants, animals, and bacteria, and include a wide variety of species such as mushrooms, moulds, and yeasts.
Furthermore, the visible mushrooms simply aid reproduction. Under the soil, fungi consist of an often massive web known as the mycorrhizal. This web forms a symbiotic relationship with many plants including trees bringing nutrients that the plant could not reach with its roots. In exchange, the plants provide the fungi with food in the form of sugars. At the outer limits of the mycorrhizal network, small hair-like ligaments known as hyphae reach into rock crevasses and bring back much-needed minerals to the host. Consequently, this means that when we eat fruit and vegetables that have had a helping hand from mycorrhizal fungi, we too benefit from these nutrients.
Unfortunately, according to research from the Department of Primary Industries (please see graph below) our fungi populations are dramatically decreasing. Of the many negative consequences that result from declining fungi, one aspect in particular stood out for me. Fungi are one of the world’s great recyclers breaking down dead plant matter. Fungi perform this task by producing far less CO2 than bacteria. Furthermore, during this process, fungi help to store large quantities of carbon in the soil. In contrast whilst breaking down organic material, microbe bacteria which, in recent years, have seen population increases, produce far more CO2. In essence, fungi can aid in fighting climate change.
So how can we reverse the trend and start helping fungi and their web of mycorrhizal to flourish? Well firstly we should be limiting the use of pesticides, herbicides, and above all fungicides that directly target and destroy fungi. However, other simple steps as listed below may not be so obvious.
1. Lose the obsession of constantly tidying our backyards and gardens
According to Alison Pouliot in ABC’s Gardening Australia series, fungi like un-simplified environments, unfortunately clashing with many Australians’ love for neatness. A friend visiting our property, made a profound statement. He said, ‘It’s the colonialist mindset that likes to tidy’, he followed on to say he felt the urge to pick up some of the debris on the edge of the track we were walking on. He then stated that this is probably NOT what the environment needs. It happens he was right on both counts. Our fungi need a multitude of different homes to thrive. This includes everything from leaves to large logs, yet our gardens often offer little more than standard-sized mulch. My own partner is often complaining that we should pick up all the sticks in the paddocks around the house as it’s not tidy!! Unfortunately for me, this obsession with tidiness stops at the back door of the house as his office is always a complete mess!! However, I take comfort that we are providing a habitat for wildlife and that the fungi are working away to recycle the sticks and logs into much-needed carbon which will then consequently, leave the paddocks tidy, it just takes a little longer!!
2. Plant and enjoy sunflowers
A few years ago, I attended a workshop given by internationally renowned soil carbon expert Dr Terry McCosker. McCosker sang the praises of how effective Sunflowers are at helping expand mycorrhizal activity. Sunflowers release sugars, amino acids, and other organic compounds through their roots exudating nourishment beneficial for fungi, encouraging their growth and increasing fungal populations in the soil. Furthermore, their extensive root systems provide more surface area for fungi to colonize. This leads to a stronger, more widespread network of fungi that can improve soil health. Finally, as sunflowers grow, the mycorrhizal fungi associated with their roots spread through the soil. This expansion enhances nutrient uptake for both the sunflowers and surrounding plants, contributing to a more fertile environment.
3. Look after our soils and the fungi will look after us
For centuries a multitude of factors have been destroying the precious 6 inches of topsoils that sustain the human population and for that matter nearly all other flora and fauna. These include increased urbanization via our ever-expanding cities, deforestation through logging and land clearing for agriculture, and of course, agriculture practices themselves. Major culprits include overgrazing and a focus on monocultures. There are also climatic factors to consider such as increased frequency and severity of winds, storms, and prolonged droughts. All these factors and many more impact our fungi, however, we can help reverse this trend by simply actions such as planting trees and allowing land to go back to the forest where fungi can thrive. As discussed in our last blog The ethical dilemma of wood trees also provides much-needed shade for livestock. We should also ensure that soil is not left bare and, therefore, vulnerable to drying out and, as many gardeners and farmers know, regularly add compost to increase the soil’s organic matter.
So, let’s go forward and celebrate mushrooms and maybe make an assertive effort to relax our compulsion to tidy!
This article was written by an ex resident of Elvina Bay, Sally-Anne Gaunt, who has since relocated with her partner, Ged Brennan, to a property on the south coast of NSW.