Soil Association

MYCORRHIZAE AND FORESTRY What is Mycorrhiza: Albert Bernard Frank (1885), in his study of relationships between soil microbes and plants, introduced the Greek term ‘mycorrhiza’, which means ‘fungus roots’. Mycorrhizas are highly evolved symbiotic association between roots of most higher/vascular plants and certain specialized soil fungi (Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Zygomyectes) that colonize the root cortex during periods of active plant growth both in the natural environment and in…

communities involve direct consumption of AMF hyphae or fine roots colonized by AMF (Bonkowski et al. 2000), increased physical disturbance through burrowing actions (Gange and Brown 2002), increased nutrient availability in the soil (see McLean et al. 2006) and decrease soil organic matters (Frelich et al. 2006). Direct consumption of hyphae and physical disturbances may disrupt the contact of external hyphae with AMF-dependent or other host plants and can substantially decrease the AMF biomass…

It is interesting to note that modern humans have been around for a very long time and lived much of it without causing much irreparable damage to the environment. Finding renewable energy sources, and the conservation of flora and fauna are both examples of how human alterations on biomes has had a positive impact on the environment. There are, however, also some negative influences such as removal of trees to increase areas of cultivation, and the increase in use of chemical fertilisers, which…

physical properties, the more cultivation is typically needed. Without adequate cultivation, there remains a high potential for layering in the soil. Anytime there is a layer created in the soil, the interface between the layers will have the potential to negatively affect hydraulic conductivity, root penetration and even air and gas exchange characteristics of the soil. The goal of all topdressing programs is to reach 75% sand by weight in the rootzone. When 75% is reached, macropores are…

conditioning the grass as well as other landscape features. This will protect against the harsh effects from summer weather patterns. It is also necessary to stop the emergence of weeds and unwanted plants. Residential property owners and homeowner associations should not put off landscaping maintenance during springtime. This is the best time to jump start the growth of healthy roots in grass and other plants. Healthy root systems prevent damage from heavy rains, winds, and even prolonged…

What is biodiversity? Introduction Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life on Earth at all its levels and includes genes to ecosystems, as well as the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain it (Cardinale, 2012). The Earth’s biodiversity has long been a source of wonderment and scientific curiosity, but is increasingly becoming a source of concern. The sheer diversity of life is of inestimable value. Biodiversity has a number of functions on Earth, from providing a foundation…

Introduction: Soil samples where collected to test at Green River College, King County Washington, Sec 16 T21N R05E, W.M. in the gator pond retention area. Testing was done every half chain, for a distance of 528 feet to the north/south, 16 lines. Plots to the east/west where done until the water no longer flowed into the water shed. Data collected included, amounts of sand silt and clay, the amount of gravel, and dominate and co-dominate species in a 4 foot radius and the density of each plot.…

DROUGHT ADAPTATIONS IN KENYA INTRODUCTION The Lancet commission on Health and Climate change June 2015 list four direct effect of climate change; ’Increase heat stress, floods, drought and increased frequency of intense storms”( The Lancet, 2015). Who. int (2015) describes drought as a period in the climate cycle caused by lack of rainfall that result in lack of water that then leads to food shortages. The populations mostly affected by this climate induced disaster are; people of low social…

gases. “Soil biological processes have major long-term effects on composition of Earth’s atmosphere, which in turn influences all living things, including soil microorganisms” ( Brady, Weil 2008). Changes in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, temperature, and precipitation amounts and patterns will modify the soil plant system, and influence decomposition rates which will have impacts…

Within recent decades, there has been an experience in the decrease of the soil health and fertility around the world. There are many causes to this, which will be explained later on into this essay. This is a problem that needs to have more focus put on it because soil health and fertility is arguably the basis for all of our foods and without having healthy and fertile soil, there will be a decrease in the amount of crops produced. But not only is the amount of crops produced affected, the…