Does my soil already contain mycorrhizal fungi?
Mycorrhizal fungi are present in most undisturbed soil ecosystems, along with innumerable amounts of bacteria, protozoa, actinomycetes, worms, soil fauna, etc. Mycorrhizal populations are particularly low and many times non-existent on highly disturbed restoration sites that have been altered by clearing, compaction, chemical fertilizers, erosion, and topsoil removal. Once lost from a site, mycorrhizal populations are slow to recolonize, unless there is close access to natural areas that can act as a source of mycorrhizal spores to repopulate the area. Nursery grown plants available to restoration professionals are often deficient in mycorrhizae. Plants raised in most nurseries receive intensive care and feeding. The artificial conditions, high levels of water and nutrients and sterile soil-less mixes at the nursery, produce vast quantities of plants for sale.
