Comments on: Fungal Compost http://sustainablesmallholding.org/fungal-compost/ Permaculture, and Sustainable practices on a Lincolnshire Smallholding Sun, 05 Feb 2017 15:17:11 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.11 By: Deano Martin http://sustainablesmallholding.org/fungal-compost/#comment-260972 Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:09:01 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=4272#comment-260972 Hi David
The straw breaks down pretty quickly in a heap especially if it’s shredded. Fungi, actinomycetes and cellulomonas all use it as a food substrate. As long as there is enough nitrogen and other minerals present there shouldn’t be a problem. Pre-soak in diluted urine for best results.
Hope that helps.

]]>
By: Hiking Viking http://sustainablesmallholding.org/fungal-compost/#comment-248637 Wed, 18 Nov 2015 04:14:52 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=4272#comment-248637 I’ve been looking for a home-version to make straw break down in hot compost faster or better. I understand that fungi (and some bacteria) break down lignin, but lignin is complex and resistant to decay except over a long period of time. My internet searches lead mostly to scientific papers and abstracts from researchers trying to just break down lignin and leave the cellulose so that it can be fermented into bio-fuels. It involves all kinds of complex chemical and biological processes. Lignin rules in high carbon materials such as straw and wood. I just want to make better compost, and hopefully, faster. The break down of lignin is one of the keys to doing that. Any ideas on how to encourage lignin break down straw compost without having to be a research scientist in the bio-fuels industry? My initial thought is to “pre-decay” straw so that when added to hot compost, it will decompose quicker. I think that would work, but I don’t know how to do that.

]]>
By: Deano Martin http://sustainablesmallholding.org/fungal-compost/#comment-228250 Sat, 11 Jul 2015 19:45:43 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=4272#comment-228250 Hi Tom
Look in Soil Microbiology,Ecology and Biochemistry edited by E Paul. That’s my reference for that piece of information.

]]>
By: tom butler http://sustainablesmallholding.org/fungal-compost/#comment-221306 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 14:25:54 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=4272#comment-221306 hi deano
really interested in soil microbiology, I have worked with compost teas, as well as biodynamic preperations. I’ve not come across the carbon phosphorous ratio before affecting phosphorous availability. I’m keen to learn more but a google search didn’t lead me to useful results. Can you suggest any links that are resonably easy to understand, thanks

]]>
By: bob http://sustainablesmallholding.org/fungal-compost/#comment-218340 Tue, 19 May 2015 03:59:14 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=4272#comment-218340 how about instead of buying wheat bran, have you use used coffee ground, its a free organic source for the fungus to grow on?

]]>