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Cultivate Native Mycorrhizae Workshop Part II

COST: Free with Registration (Donations Accepted)

part of Phase III of our research

Mycorrhizal Research

We are currently running multiple parallel mycorrhizal research projects.

Our work is focused on Phase II and Phase III of these projects, which are detailed below.

What are our goals?

1. Understand how the inoculants affect:

  • Tree Health

  • Soil Health

  • Drought Tolerance

2. Create science communication and accessible recommendations for local growers, landscape and restoration professionals.

3. Add 100's of trees to Austin’s canopy!


What metrics will we be using?

Tree Health

  • diameter, height, root measurements TBD

  • Soil Health

    • Nitrogen, pH, Conductivity

    • desired: eDNA and microBIOMETER

  • Drought Tolerance

    • TBD

We welcome feedback and discussion. If you would like to chat or have a recommendation for us, please contact me at april@centraltexasmycology.org.


RESEARCH PHASES


Phase 1: (Complete)

For this phase, we experimented with the effectiveness of two fungal treatments to enhance tree growth and resiliency.

Investigated 3 Native Tree Species :

  • Eve’s Necklace (Styphnolobium affine)

  • Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa)

  • Escarpment live oak (Quercus fusiformis)


Phase 2: Commercial Inoculant Pilot Project

For this phase we will be gaining understanding and adding hundreds of trees to the Austin canopy! We currently have 420 plant bands in the TreeFolks nursery.

Investigating 2 Native Tree Species:

  • Red Oak (Quercus buckleyi)

  • Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

2 Treatments + Control: MicroLife’s Mycorrhizal Plus and Humisoil (local)

2 x Trees for future drought and non-drought conditions

35 Trees per type, treatment, and drought condition

420+ trees potentially added to the Austin canopy!


Phase 3: Mycorrhizal Inoculants: Native & Commercial

This is where our research and knowledge culminates into a larger, broader study encompassing both native and commercial inoculants.

Investigating 3 Native Tree Species (an oak, a conifer, and a legume):

  • Red Oak (Quercus buckleyi)

  • Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

  • Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)

Native Study:

  • 1 Treatment: Native Mycorrhizae grown from soil of local trees

  • 2 x Trees for future drought and non-drought conditions

  • 35 Trees per type and drought condition

  • 35 x 3 x 2 = 210 Trees!

Commercial Study:

  • 2 Treatments: MicroLife’s Mycorrhizal Plus and Humisoil (local)

  • 2 x Trees for future drought and non-drought conditions

  • 35 Trees per type and treatment and drought condition

  • 35 x 3 x 2 x 2 = 620 Trees!

Control:

  • No treatment added to the soil

  • 35 Trees per type and drought condition

  • 35 x 3 x 2 = 210 Trees!

940+ trees potentially added to the Austin canopy!


This project is proudly in collaboration with:

 

our research is currently located at multiple sites in austin.

Site: TREE FOLKS (Austin, TX)

Phases II & III

We are working closely with Vit at the TreeFolks nursery to ensure our efforts are well placed. We are mimicking their tree growing processes so that we can help come up with a set of recommendations to help their tree attrition rate during drought conditions. The 420 seeds we planted are all currently growing in the Treefolks nursery, and Vit has been taking care of them while they are there.

Treefolks was founded as a local solution to local warming and deforestation on August 30, 1989. Since then, TreeFolks has grown to work with communities throughout Central Texas in community tree planting, street tree and backyard tree giveaways, education and urban-wildland reforestation efforts. From a single acorn has grown a canopy to shade communities in Bastrop, Hays, and Travis Counties, and serve thousands of Texas’ people.

 

Site: Circle Acres Nature Preserve (Austin, TX)

phases i & III

We are working with Eric Paulus, Land Steward of Circle Acres to house the grasses we planted to grow the mycorrhizae fungi in the native study that is part of Phase III of our research. Eric has been taking care of these grasses while they are in his greenhouse. All Phase I trees are located in Circle Acres.

Circle Acres Nature Preserve, a 10 acre site of wetland, forest, and grassland within the neighborhood of Montopolis in East Austin, Texas, is managed by a non-profit organization Ecology Action of Texas. Circle Acres is an important part of the Colorado River Watershed ecosystem, and a habitat for over 150 bird species along with deer, turtles, and other wildlife. 

This site has suffered a series of destructive uses: overfarming by early European settlers, quarrying, landfill, and illegal dumping site. It has been restored through the efforts of several organizations (including the Rhizome Collective and Ecology Action of Texas) along with hundreds of volunteer hours, and the regenerative power of nature. Ecology Action of Texas continues this restoration and preservation work through ongoing restoration, bioremediation, and conservation. The Montopolis neighborhood in East Austin includes diverse BIPOC communities (80.34%) with median household income (2019) ~30% lower than Austin’s average.

 
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