For spring 2022 we are testing the FDC in three ways: 1) using seeds for germination and growth tests 2) applying to a lawn, or top dressing a lawn 3) use with seedlings (already started plants) Each method has a few variations, but the processes are pretty straightforward. General rules when applying and testing FDC You need to do “twins” — for each plant variety or tree type or lawn area, try to select a roughly identical pair of plant and locations. Apply the Fungal-Dominant Compost (FDC) to only one of the two plants (trees, lawn areas); the second plant will be your reference. Both plants must be exposed to…
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Latest ONfungi report highlights the benefits of FDC
Dec 22, 2021 — The Regenerative Effects of Fungal Dominant Compost: Pilot Study has been released. The report, prepared by Emma Roy, Scott Hortop and Hailee Turry, is part of our ONfungi citizen science project and research series. The work, done over the summer of 2021, continues to advance and expand the understanding of the utility of Fungal Dominant Compost (FDC). Download the 2021 report here. The report is a PDF of 1.34m in size. Our ONfungi compost is made primarily from fallen leaves high in cellulose and covered in fungal spores. After a lengthy two year composting period the leaves have been slowly digested; offering a higher fungi to…
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Fungi fruiting on ONfungi inoculated site
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Experiment Update: Field work complete
This update is an exciting one because we have completed the field work trial on fungal-dominant compost (FDC) made in Ontario. The results we have received are very promising. In the coming weeks we will be able to update everyone with a complete report outlining what we did and why we did it. Friday, October 15, we went out to the farm where we conduct our field work. With an unusually warm fall, there was still no frost and the plants were doing quite well. From a visual assessment, all of the plants on the treated plot were larger than those on the control plot. In particular, the flowers on…
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Fungi fruiting on ONfungi inoculated site
Well, much to Emma’s delight, the fungal dominant compost (FDC) test bed has sent up fruit. This site is coming in very well, leading the sample sites in productivity, and now we have a mushroom.
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Latest ONfungi report highlights the benefits of FDC
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Experiment Update – Week 5
Emma Roy — So far at the farm everything has been going extremely well. I’ve received a variety of different results which I’m excited to begin analyzing. Here is an example of two sunflower plants, both were planted at the same time, in the same location, with the same environmental conditions and water levels. The only difference was during planting, I added ONfungi’s Fungal Dominant Compost to one plot of plants where as the other was left with no additions for control. These are the sunflowers after 5 weeks, the one on the right was innoculated with compost, the left is control. The right is taller by about 15cm and…
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Experiment Update – Week 4
Hi everyone, Emma here back with an update. On Friday, I went out to water the plants and take measurements and came to some interesting conclusions. In the control plot, all of the plants seem to be doing fairly well except there were signs of fungal disease & drought on the cucumbers and the African daisies. The plot with ONfungi compost added did not show any of these signs of disease on either of the species. In line with past updates, the rate of growth on the FDC (fungal dominant compost) plot is faster on almost all of the species, in particular the peas and the sunflowers.
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Experiment Update
Hi everyone, Emma here, just coming in with an update! On Friday at the farm I went to check the experimental plots and to water and to my surprise noticed a visual difference in the two plots. The FDC treated plot was a few shades darker than the control plot, indicating that the soil seems to be holding more water and life. This seems like a good sign, I am excited to see about our results next week.
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Emma’s 4 plot experiment: August 13
August 13, 2021: First measurements Update on the experiment, so far it’s doing good!!!! We’ve had growth of some kind on almost every section so far the cucumbers in the control are larger, but the peas, sunflowers, and grass in the experimental plots are larger (affected) so it seems legumes and native plants take to the compost better during germination
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ONfungi farm experiments have begun
August 9, 2021 — ONfungi biologist Emma Roy has begun the first larger scale farm experiments. Plots were rototilled and planted Friday, August 6. This experiment looks to address a wider cross section of humate, fertilizer and fungal dominant compost soil enhancements. Emma’s reports will be found here. Video of planting day and follow ups is coming.
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August is New Experiment Month at ONfungi
August is New Experiment Month as Lanark’s ONfungi looks at soil based CO2 sequestration Emma Roy, our new biologist, is launching two new CO2 sequestration and soil experiments in August. These experiments are for Lanark area citizen scientists and are done at home. “ONfungi is looking at ways to improve soil and sequester carbon. The lawn test will be interesting,” says Roy, “It should actually sequester carbon. We’ll find out.” The first experiment is “easy” and looks at root growth using the fungi starter. As a bonus ONfungi also looks at carbon sequestration in lawn soils. The rooting test is done over two weeks (or more if you like). The…
