Mycorrhiza and soil microbes

1 September 2021 | Presented by Dr Morag Glen | Future Orchards®

This presentation introduces the role of mycorrhizal fungi and other soil microbes in orchard systems. Dr Morag Glen explains how beneficial soil organisms interact with plant roots and can influence nutrient acquisition, soil structure and the broader biological functioning of the orchard floor.

Mycorrhizal fungi form associations with roots that effectively extend the zone from which a plant can acquire water and nutrients. The presentation places these relationships within the broader soil-food-web context, reminding growers that biological activity is influenced by orchard-floor management, organic matter, soil disturbance and chemical inputs.

For growers, the resource is useful for understanding why soil biology is increasingly considered alongside conventional soil chemistry. It supports a more integrated view of nutrient efficiency, where healthy root systems and active soil microbial communities contribute to long-term orchard productivity.