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Current and past reasearch projects are described below.
"Mycorrhizal Banks to Enhance Vegetable Yield and Reduce Water Quality Impairment by Mitigating Excessive Soil Phosphorus."
Our field season began. We installed the project. We gathered baseline data. Local, wild inoculum is growing in the greenhouse currently and potentially in some of our inoculated covercrop mix field edge plots amidst the parsely! Below are photos from spring 2022 of: field research design, edge of field N & S buffers, Sebastian helping rake in wild inoculum and covercrop seeds, grown out field buffer edges with radish strips to separate plots, Luca setting up pot cultures, greenhouse set up, week 2 pot culture growth, mycorrhizal root dying for baseline wild buffer colonization analysis, covercrop field banks inoculated & uninoculated before scything with a radish strip, after covercrops were scythed and parsley planted, wild inoculum covercrop seed growing week 4, & mycorrhizal spores from adjacent wild buffers we were able to extract from the soil under 10x microscope lens. We are still working on the identification to family. |
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Pictures above of spring 2021 include from top left, across going down: mesocosm setup, sign on greenhouse, intern Paige Sterling preparing mycorrhizal slides, concept design, microplate pipetting for microbial counts, soil from the fields drying for analysis, Jess & intern Mary at work, willow vs. red osier dogwood roots, mycorrhizal microscopy from soil.
The greenhouse research below, (which we harvested autumn 2021 & have analyzed) is the precursor to another field pilot (see left column) we were recently awarded through a 2nd SARE Partnership grant. This in an ecotone between Diggers Mirth Collective & wild field edges at the Intervale in Burlington.
Mycorrhizally Enhanced Phytoremediation of Phosphorus by Riparian Buffer Vegetation: a Mesocosm Study of Uptake and Leaching at UVM Greenhouse, 2021-2022. We investigate phosphorus plant efficiency and leaching in mesocosms with two riparian species, Black Willow +Osier Dogwood (Salix niger, Cornus sericea) grown with and without mycorrhizae, in low and high phosphorus soil. Data includes leachate P, plant uptake P, Mehlich-3 P, microbial functional community, and mycorrhizal counts. Soil is from two organic farms at the Intervale (one high & one low in P). Objectives:
Read our per reviewed published findings: Effects of mycorrhizae, plants, and soils on phosphorus leaching and plant uptake: Lessons learned from a mesocosm study https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.10263 |
Update as of Spring 2022: We gratefully just received a Lake Champlain Basin 'Healthy Ecosystems' Grant!! And thanks for more funding from the Lintilhac Foundation, this project is becoming long-term monitoring research. We continue gathering SRP, TP, Mehlich3, Plant Species Richness & Diversity, Willow P uptake, AMF extra radical hyphae & are adding: AMF spore & root colonization, pollinator presence, 3 additional plants for P uptake, while increasing collaboration with Abenaki, expanding our research plots into Abenaki harvest ways through a memorandum with Shelburne FarmsF, UVM, MycoEvolve, & the Abenaki Artist Association.
Mycoremediation of Phosphorus in Agricultural Runoff using Mycorrhizal-Plant Associations at Shelburne Farms. 2019-2022. This ecological restoration project aims to facilitate the recovery of a degraded ecotone (see pix to right) between a farm and its watershed basin. This pilot project is a case study for farmers with drainage ditches, overgrown in non-native species, which funnel phosphorus (P) into the lake from tile drains, legacy upland phosphorus, and current land practices. The project investigates how restoring degraded ecosystems with polycultures can reduce P runoff through reintroducing ecosystem functions of increased water retention, filtration capacity, and trophic structures. The research plan involves three experimental study sites: restored vegetated (RV), restored vegetated mycorrhizally inoculated (RVM), and control of untouched buckthorn (OIV). Thanks to funders NE SARE, Lintilhac Foundation and UVM College of Agriculture & Life Sciences James W. Marvin Award in Science & Conservation!! Click on the title of the project for the final report.
PHOSPHORUS:
Field Trials:
A. Investigate whether the 3 treatments (control of original vegetation, native restoration plantings with and without mycorrhizae) within the riparian zone affect soil water SRP concentrations in the root zones.
Hypothesis: There is a difference in SRP concentrations among the following treatments: Original buckthorn dominated (OIV), Restored vegetation without mycorrhizae (RV), Restored vegetation with mycorrhizae (RVM). SRP concentrations vary in soil water in this order OIV>RV>RVM.
B. Determine whether mycorrhizae result in increased P concentrations in willow plant tissue.
Hypothesis: P plant tissue concentrations will be greater in the restored area with mycorrhizae than the area without mycorrhizae.
Lab Trials:
C. To measure the difference in soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations in soil water of each mesocosm treatment (inoculated willow, uninoculated willow, buckthorn).
Hypothesis: The SRP concentrations in soil water will follow this order: inoculated willow<uninoculated willow< buckthorn.
D. To measure the difference in P plant concentrations and biomass between the three treatments.
Hypothesis: P concentrations in plants and biomass will be in this order: RVM>RV>OIV.
HABITAT DIVERSITY:
Field Trials:
E. Determine plant community composition and plant species richness in the three plots.
This is to provide a baseline of the plant community composition for future research.
Thank you to NESARE for funding support, Shelburne Farms for partnering with MycoEvolve, to VYCC for joining us in earthworks and education, to UVM Plant & Soil Sciences Department and several faculty in various other departments for supporting our learning and training, UVM Horticulture Farm for equipment lends, UVM AETL Lab for analyzing our samples, Mike Bald of Got WEEDS for mentoring us in chemical free species removal, NEGEF for supporting our collaboration with Abenaki, and to various amazing community volunteers & homeschool communities who offered crucial labor in manually removing buckthorn, putting up fences, and building the doors to our research site!
As this transitions to a long term monitoring project, we now also study succession and reconciliation of colonial agriculture pollution.
Read more here on our published first two years of data: The effects of mycorrhizae on phosphorus mitigation & pollinator habitat restoration within riparian buffers on unceded land. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.13671
Below are pictures starting Spring 2020-spring 2022: ecological design, soil pasteurization, inoculation, work parties: site preparation, planting, mesocosm studies, data gathering, pollinator habitat succession, saprophytic emergence, educational workshops, & Abenaki partnerships
Mycoremediation of Phosphorus in Agricultural Runoff using Mycorrhizal-Plant Associations at Shelburne Farms. 2019-2022. This ecological restoration project aims to facilitate the recovery of a degraded ecotone (see pix to right) between a farm and its watershed basin. This pilot project is a case study for farmers with drainage ditches, overgrown in non-native species, which funnel phosphorus (P) into the lake from tile drains, legacy upland phosphorus, and current land practices. The project investigates how restoring degraded ecosystems with polycultures can reduce P runoff through reintroducing ecosystem functions of increased water retention, filtration capacity, and trophic structures. The research plan involves three experimental study sites: restored vegetated (RV), restored vegetated mycorrhizally inoculated (RVM), and control of untouched buckthorn (OIV). Thanks to funders NE SARE, Lintilhac Foundation and UVM College of Agriculture & Life Sciences James W. Marvin Award in Science & Conservation!! Click on the title of the project for the final report.
PHOSPHORUS:
Field Trials:
A. Investigate whether the 3 treatments (control of original vegetation, native restoration plantings with and without mycorrhizae) within the riparian zone affect soil water SRP concentrations in the root zones.
Hypothesis: There is a difference in SRP concentrations among the following treatments: Original buckthorn dominated (OIV), Restored vegetation without mycorrhizae (RV), Restored vegetation with mycorrhizae (RVM). SRP concentrations vary in soil water in this order OIV>RV>RVM.
B. Determine whether mycorrhizae result in increased P concentrations in willow plant tissue.
Hypothesis: P plant tissue concentrations will be greater in the restored area with mycorrhizae than the area without mycorrhizae.
Lab Trials:
C. To measure the difference in soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations in soil water of each mesocosm treatment (inoculated willow, uninoculated willow, buckthorn).
Hypothesis: The SRP concentrations in soil water will follow this order: inoculated willow<uninoculated willow< buckthorn.
D. To measure the difference in P plant concentrations and biomass between the three treatments.
Hypothesis: P concentrations in plants and biomass will be in this order: RVM>RV>OIV.
HABITAT DIVERSITY:
Field Trials:
E. Determine plant community composition and plant species richness in the three plots.
This is to provide a baseline of the plant community composition for future research.
Thank you to NESARE for funding support, Shelburne Farms for partnering with MycoEvolve, to VYCC for joining us in earthworks and education, to UVM Plant & Soil Sciences Department and several faculty in various other departments for supporting our learning and training, UVM Horticulture Farm for equipment lends, UVM AETL Lab for analyzing our samples, Mike Bald of Got WEEDS for mentoring us in chemical free species removal, NEGEF for supporting our collaboration with Abenaki, and to various amazing community volunteers & homeschool communities who offered crucial labor in manually removing buckthorn, putting up fences, and building the doors to our research site!
As this transitions to a long term monitoring project, we now also study succession and reconciliation of colonial agriculture pollution.
Read more here on our published first two years of data: The effects of mycorrhizae on phosphorus mitigation & pollinator habitat restoration within riparian buffers on unceded land. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.13671
Below are pictures starting Spring 2020-spring 2022: ecological design, soil pasteurization, inoculation, work parties: site preparation, planting, mesocosm studies, data gathering, pollinator habitat succession, saprophytic emergence, educational workshops, & Abenaki partnerships
Colchester Mycoremediation Pilot Project (4/19-6/20)
Focus: watershed health restoration
Involved: install of fungal hugelcultures & mycorrhizally plantings of native riparian species on town-owned buffers in the Smith Hollow Brook sub watershed; testing, monitoring, documentation throughout.
Project aims: to determine whether these strategies uptake phosphorus and/or degrade Escherichia coli (E.coli), in waterways deemed impaired by VT DEC.
Partners: The Colchester Stormwater Utility partnered with MycoEvolve
Research questions:
- Do mycorrhizal riparian buffers reduce Phosphorus concentrations in the waterway?
- Do Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail), Lentinula edodes (Shitake) reduce E.coli?
- Can this green infrastructure handle effectively large inundations in spring & fall?
- What is the filter efficacy for different size storms?
- Are there seasonal variations in filter efficacy?
Spawn source: VT Myconode (now Mycolab), Mushroom Mountain & Smug Town
Team: Karen Adams, Dr. Joshua Faulkner, Jason McCune-Sanders, Jess Rubin, Lauren Weston, Dr. Josef Gorres, Leif Olson, Sue Van Hook, Mary Robideau & volunteers
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED. FINAL REPORT IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
See below photos of the river, assessment, testing, inoculation and tree planting workshops, maps, and our stellar volunteer crews
Focus: watershed health restoration
Involved: install of fungal hugelcultures & mycorrhizally plantings of native riparian species on town-owned buffers in the Smith Hollow Brook sub watershed; testing, monitoring, documentation throughout.
Project aims: to determine whether these strategies uptake phosphorus and/or degrade Escherichia coli (E.coli), in waterways deemed impaired by VT DEC.
Partners: The Colchester Stormwater Utility partnered with MycoEvolve
Research questions:
- Do mycorrhizal riparian buffers reduce Phosphorus concentrations in the waterway?
- Do Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail), Lentinula edodes (Shitake) reduce E.coli?
- Can this green infrastructure handle effectively large inundations in spring & fall?
- What is the filter efficacy for different size storms?
- Are there seasonal variations in filter efficacy?
Spawn source: VT Myconode (now Mycolab), Mushroom Mountain & Smug Town
Team: Karen Adams, Dr. Joshua Faulkner, Jason McCune-Sanders, Jess Rubin, Lauren Weston, Dr. Josef Gorres, Leif Olson, Sue Van Hook, Mary Robideau & volunteers
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED. FINAL REPORT IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
See below photos of the river, assessment, testing, inoculation and tree planting workshops, maps, and our stellar volunteer crews
EPSCOR BREE: Mycoremediation Pilot for Watershed Restoration 2018 - 2019.
Our objectives were to:
We found:
- Stropharia rugoso-amnulata did reduce E.coli #'s
- Both direct contact with SRA mats & enzyme exudates reduced E. coli #s
- Mycelial mats potentially mineralize and release Phosphorus
- Mycelial mats were potential nursery sites for other microbes
More lab research is needed before we would apply them to local hot spots.
Due to other projects in process, we pause in this line of research to focus on working with primary saprophytes and mycorrhizae in mycofiltration potential.
Our objectives were to:
- Assess how King/Queen Stropharia (Stropharia rugoso-annulata) fungi form mycelial mats.
- Gather quantitative data to determine if Stropharia rugoso-annulata (SRA) mycelial mats reduce CFU’s of E. coli in dairy effluent slurry.
- Determine if mycelial mats of SRA affect nutrient cycling.
We found:
- Stropharia rugoso-amnulata did reduce E.coli #'s
- Both direct contact with SRA mats & enzyme exudates reduced E. coli #s
- Mycelial mats potentially mineralize and release Phosphorus
- Mycelial mats were potential nursery sites for other microbes
More lab research is needed before we would apply them to local hot spots.
Due to other projects in process, we pause in this line of research to focus on working with primary saprophytes and mycorrhizae in mycofiltration potential.
©2022 MycoEvolve; DBA of Roots and Trails L3C
