Fertile mushrooms: The guide to organic cultivation with mycorrhizae | Jeff Lowenfels

Improved drought tolerance, disease resistance, and higher yields are just a few of the advantages that mycorrhizal fungi have to enhance plant performance. Through a mutually beneficial exchange, host plants provide the carbon that mycorrhizal fungi need, and in return, these fungi help plant roots to find and retain the water and nutrients they require. The interaction is so complex that scientists have taken a long time to understand it. Jeff Lowenfels explains with utmost clarity how mycorrhizae can benefit plants. With applications in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, ornamental gardens, hydroponics, lawns, and turf, "Fertile Fungi" reveals the fundamental role that mycorrhizal fungi play in successfully growing all kinds of plants. Through practical methods, it details how to apply the basic principles of mycorrhiza to achieve healthier, more resilient, and higher-performing plants. While conventional fertilizers rich in phosphorus and nitrogen cause many environmental problems, mycorrhizal fungi provide a more sustainable solution as they clean up soils and prevent erosion. Jeff Lowenfels also provides a method for cultivating one's own mycorrhizal fungi from native strains. Essential for life on Earth, mycorrhizae are a key asset in the new agricultural revolution and in climate preservation as they act as carbon sinks. This book is a significant contribution to the pursuit of sustainable agriculture.