Powdery mildew

[David Humphries]

Acidification, compaction, nitrification (in YOUR case eutrophication and compaction via our four and two legged varieties) render the soil habitat unfavourable to mycorhizae.

 

 

 

That's not our experience of the situation at Hampstead Tony, certainly for the last couple of preceding years mycorrhizae have been in abundance.

(& likewise at the Whip from my experience of the site)

 

& this on a site with the stresses you mention above, plus the 7 million footfalls a year, which is well within the boundaries of one of the most populated urban areas of europe.

 

To prove the point, (all be it anecdotally) these taken within a week of each other last autumn, in an urban oak woodland...........

 

 

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[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

and what do ALL of those images have in common?

[sloth]

Nice thick mulch/leaf litter

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

They are all generalists, all are in good humus rich soils

 

Now show me low soil organic content well worn soils and species specifics!

[David Humphries]

I think you would be surprised at how shallow the organic horizon where those shots were taken. 'Very' soon down to sand and mineral soils.

 

Going to bed, maybe shots of mycos in 'deprived' context tomorrow.

 

Even though its a mildew thread

[sloth]

They are all generalists, all are in good humus rich soils

 

Now show me low soil organic content well worn soils and species specifics!

 

Is there a reference for which species are specific/generalist? Or is your brain just a sponge of gleaned information!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Is there a reference for which species are specific/generalist? Or is your brain just a sponge of gleaned information!

 

 

Spongebob:blushing:

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

It really doesnt make a ot lof difference to how deep the organic horizon goes, its there acting as a sponge and source of goodness. Decompaction protection through soil dwellers etc and sand like you have ont the heath is a lot better than clays in that regard as you know.

 

and were not talking just any old generalists here, were hunting the delicate sensitive species specific networks.

 

Find me the orange Oak Bolete or the orange birch bolete, I will give you the Satanas, but again what was the conditions like for this find?

 

Im not suggesting that the Heath is less than a miracle and urban oasis of biodiversity and uba rare stuff, but the pressures on the heath have magnified exponentially in the last few decades, and its only going to get worse.

 

I agree, we need a new thread!

[David Humphries]

They are all generalists, all are in good humus rich soils

 

Now show me low soil organic content well worn soils and species specifics!

 

 

Amanita muscaria, Leccinum duriusculum & Bolete sp growing & also fruiting from within heavy clay, compacted & impovorished soil environments.

 

 

 

 

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[David Humphries]

Went inspecting a couple of issue trees this morning and on the way I noted three seperate occurances of mildew on oak, field maple & red chestnut.

 

 

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