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Georgetown, Ontario

Just a simple question ... Once mycorhizae is placed in the soil, how long is it viable? How long until it needs to come in contact with and infect roots before it dies? I am assuming it is in a dormant state when we we apply it and is activated by the moisture in the soil but if it doesn't come into contact with roots, how long until it is ineffective?

3/7/2012 9:01:26 AM

Colorado

2.7 seconds-ha.Good question cause you dont want to kill it(lose a bunch) by putting it in two early(needs a plant as a host).Also theres spores to consider.They would have a different longevity than the hyphae.I think thats why most growers place it at planting and as the secondaries develop.You could place it earlier in combo with a cover crop.

3/7/2012 12:29:32 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

If you sprout and start your plants you CAN put some in the seeding mix, too. Then in planting hole and backfill dirt.

When burying vines, a pinch added to the node dirt per node. (I am talking about the RTI dry mix stuff)

3/7/2012 2:49:45 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Lunatics make me curious... & if you have a cover crop growing...that supports Mycorhizae, ie...winter rye...cut it down, till it in, do you need to add more Myco? ? Peace, Wayne

3/7/2012 11:42:39 PM

Seattle, WA

Wayne,

You should have active hyphae at that point, meaning it should colonize roots faster than any commercial myco product. I would probably add a bit into hole when planting, and then forget about it.

As for viability, the spores should stay viable for a long time in the soil (they've survived in Nature before we even knew what they were!). However, they could be eaten by other microbes or suffer other fates. Beyond that, I haven't seen any research on the subject myself.

3/8/2012 4:36:51 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tad, thanks...but as an aspiring AG grower, and the results shown from the HH's that use Myco...forgetting about it, is not an option!!!! I will put it into every place, that I think a root might be....Just like the Po tahsh kids do!!! Peace, Wayne
No mean ness meant any where in this r e p l y ! ! !

3/8/2012 11:25:53 PM

Seattle, WA

No offense taken. I don't think it will hurt anything to do it, I'm just not convinced you'll really see any added benefit. I would still recommend the cover crop, because having active hyphae would be better than dormant spores (speeds up colonization/infection)

When I say "forget about it," I only mean that it's a 1X application directly to the roots of your plant when transplanting, not that it doesn't have benefit.

3/9/2012 5:13:20 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Thanks, Tad!!! Peace, Wayne & ?...the myco will translocate (grow along w/the plant)grow along w/ the growin plant?

3/10/2012 7:54:49 PM

Seattle, WA

Yes

3/12/2012 3:19:51 PM