Permaculture is a
gardening method that is modeled on the ecological and biological principles found in nature.
Sepp Holzer has based his revolutionary
gardening methods on a concept he calls Hugelkulture. But what is going on in his
berms that are generating such amazing results? The following information is a textbook study. I hope it is informative.
The Science of hugelkulture
The world’s largest organism is the mycelium fungus Armillaria solidipes commonly called the
honey mushroom and located in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon. The small editable mushroom is estimated to cover 2,200 acres and maybe between 2,400-7,200 years old.
Previously, another giant honey mushrooms were found near Mt. Adams in Washington State, covering 1,500 areas. The first giant honey mushroom was found near Crystal Falls Michigan, covering 37acres.
Mycorrhizae fungi are enormously important components to natural ecosystems and
Permaculture agriculture. Almost all plants evolved alongside and established a beneficial relationship with a fungus, for the exchange of essential nutrients.
Mycelium fungi are well adapted to decomposing almost any carbon- containing organic matter. Have been shown to benefit certain grasses and other non-woody plants by synthesizing toxins that deter herbivore insects and animals or by increasing host plants tolerance of heat, drought or heavy metals.
Mycorrhizae (fungus
root) are the beneficial relationship and mutualistic joining of
roots and fungi. There are two connective methods employed by the fungus to join the two organisms.
Ectomycorrhizae are associated mostly with woody plants, including pines, spruces, oaks, walnut, birch, willow and eucalyptus families. A fibrous tentacle like structure coming from the fungus called a hyphae, encapsulates the plants roots. The hyphae increases the surface area of the root, allowing for greater uptake of
water and also supplies the plant with phosphate and other minerals absorbed from the soil.
Arbuscular mycorrhizae do not have a dense mantle sheathing the roots. The fungi filaments enter only the outer epidermis cells and cortex. The association is found in 85% of plant species, including crop plants such as maize, wheat and legumes.
Roots can form mycorrhizal unions only if exposed to the appropriate species of fungus. In most ecosystems, these fungi are present in the soil. But if seeds are collected in one environment and planted in foreign soil, they may not be able to form a mycorrhizae bond with the
local fungi because they didn’t evolve together and don’t recognize each other.
Mycelium fungi secrete powerful enzymes into its surroundings that breakdown complex molecules, stimulate plant growth, produce antibiotics that protect roots from pathogens found in the soil. It is a main decomposer and recycler that is responsible for the decomposition of large organic matter. Without this partnership most forms of
carbon, nitrogen and other elements would remain tied up in the organic structure and would be unavailable to most plants. Fungi are also more efficient at absorbing minerals than the roots themselves.
The soil fungus Arthobotrys produces a fibrous tentacle like structure. They are modified as hoops that can constrict around a nematode (roundworm) in less than a second. The fungus then penetrates its prey with the hyphae and digests the prey’s inner tissue.
Mycelium fungus
should be encouraged in urban or former industrial sites, because of its ability to consume toxic materials and improve poor soil conditions, such as mineral deficiencies, acidity, salinity, poor drainage and chemical contamination, such as house paint, heavy metals and jet fuels that have accumulated in the soil.
Foresters commonly inoculate pine seedlings with mycorrhizal fungi to promote growth and protect against pathogens.
Double edged sword
The mycelium fungus Armillaria solidipes located in the Malheur National Forest of Eastern Oregon, was discovered after larger numbers of pine
trees started to die off. The trees were becoming overly stressed due to outside forces, such as low perspiration do to global warming. As the ground dried out the honey mushroom used its tentacles to shut off water and nutrients from going to the roots and killed the trees, in an effort to save itself. The trees die, eventually falling to the ground, became covered with decomposing biomass and soils. The mycelium spread through the
wood decomposing everything, offering storage space when it finally rained and providing an open area for new plants to establish themselves.
The timber industry considers the honey mushroom a forest disease and are introducing a new monoculture to the area. They are planting a few species of trees that don’t appear to be affected by the ancient fungus. In some areas the diseased forest has been clear cut and bulldozers brought in to tear out the infected stumps and the mycelium fungus.
Tear down paradise and put up a parking lot.
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