Soil Health

Ekka · 27th January 2007, 07:31 PM

http://www.soilhealth.com/index.htm is the site to where the attached document originated from. Very informative site.

Also came across these two charts.

Sean Freeman · 2nd February 2007, 03:15 AM

You're right that is a really useful site, this one from CSIRO makes a great companion to any Arb guy struggling to find their way in and out of the relations between fungi and roots in Oz natives http://www.ffp.csiro.au/research/mycorrhiza/intro.html check the pages on Australian plants and Eucalypt associates
in particular being able to help clients to realise that not all fruiting bodies mean the imminent demise of their tree, but rather can be indicative of great soil fertility.

SF

Ekka · 2nd February 2007, 03:29 AM

That's a ripper of a site, great find.

Did you read this part .... "We know very little about the taxonomic or functional diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in Australia (Bougher 1995). Indeed, there is a paucity of knowledge about all Australian fungi, with only about 10% of these organisms having been named, while an estimated 80% of them remain undiscovered (Pascoe 1991)."

At least now we have a place to look up the good guys.

Mind you if a mushroom is living on the tree or roots then you better do your homework.

Do you know of a good book for Australian fungi ID?

Sean Freeman · 2nd February 2007, 04:07 AM

Yes, have a hunt round this site http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/fungimap_/welcome check the fungimap bookshop link.
Probably the best book is the field guide to the fungi of Australia by Tony Young, it covers all of the commonly occuring families genera and species, you guys are far luckier since there is a focus on the South east, I quess we're too far north for civilised man here..lol

SF

Ekka · 2nd February 2007, 04:55 AM

They say the green ant nests, vines and plain ole bugs eat ya alive up there.

True?

Sean Freeman · 2nd February 2007, 05:11 AM

Green ants are a real pest its true worst case was in Halifax small settlement on the coast West of Ingham, cane country. We were doing aerial inspections and d/w removals in 8 heritage mangoes down the main street..Even before you had tied onto your lines the colour had changed from orange to olive green as literally thousands of ants come marching down the rope...(It gets better) Using a VT and F/L up the little buggers were base jumping onto you before you even got 1m off the ground.

First day I got so badly bitten on the neck ears and back I couldn't put my hivis shirt on without suffering (wish I'd had photos taken of the lumps and whelts you would not believe)

But no way around it so we had to keep getting back up into those giant ant houses for the next three days

Highlight B&B in the pub paid for by the boss...what a guy

SF

Ekka · 2nd February 2007, 09:41 PM

Green ant nests the size of footballs.

They love mango trees and torri's. They're bad azz ants, bad!

DoG · 11th February 2007, 12:43 PM

Interesting to say the least. Are they indigenous to N.E. Austrailia? Will
do a bit of research on these interesting critters after I sign off.

Ekka · 11th February 2007, 09:17 PM

I'm not sure, but ya better off without them.

Maybe we can get a pic for you of these green ants in their nests.

2nd February 2007, 03:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,846	That's a ripper of a site, great find. Did you read this part .... "We know very little about the taxonomic or functional diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in Australia (Bougher 1995). Indeed, there is a paucity of knowledge about all Australian fungi, with only about 10% of these organisms having been named, while an estimated 80% of them remain undiscovered (Pascoe 1991)." At least now we have a place to look up the good guys. Mind you if a mushroom is living on the tree or roots then you better do your homework. Do you know of a good book for Australian fungi ID? __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

2nd February 2007, 04:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,846	They say the green ant nests, vines and plain ole bugs eat ya alive up there. True? __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

2nd February 2007, 09:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,846	Green ant nests the size of footballs. They love mango trees and torri's. They're bad azz ants, bad! __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

11th February 2007, 09:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,846	I'm not sure, but ya better off without them. Maybe we can get a pic for you of these green ants in their nests. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

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2nd February 2007, 03:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,643	You're right that is a really useful site, this one from CSIRO makes a great companion to any Arb guy struggling to find their way in and out of the relations between fungi and roots in Oz natives http://www.ffp.csiro.au/research/mycorrhiza/intro.html check the pages on Australian plants and Eucalypt associates in particular being able to help clients to realise that not all fruiting bodies mean the imminent demise of their tree, but rather can be indicative of great soil fertility. SF

2nd February 2007, 04:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,643	Yes, have a hunt round this site http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/fungimap_/welcome check the fungimap bookshop link. Probably the best book is the field guide to the fungi of Australia by Tony Young, it covers all of the commonly occuring families genera and species, you guys are far luckier since there is a focus on the South east, I quess we're too far north for civilised man here..lol SF

2nd February 2007, 05:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,643	Green ants are a real pest its true worst case was in Halifax small settlement on the coast West of Ingham, cane country. We were doing aerial inspections and d/w removals in 8 heritage mangoes down the main street..Even before you had tied onto your lines the colour had changed from orange to olive green as literally thousands of ants come marching down the rope...(It gets better) Using a VT and F/L up the little buggers were base jumping onto you before you even got 1m off the ground. First day I got so badly bitten on the neck ears and back I couldn't put my hivis shirt on without suffering (wish I'd had photos taken of the lumps and whelts you would not believe) But no way around it so we had to keep getting back up into those giant ant houses for the next three days Highlight B&B in the pub paid for by the boss...what a guy SF

11th February 2007, 12:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
DoG Sappling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE, USA Posts: 15	Interesting to say the least. Are they indigenous to N.E. Austrailia? Will do a bit of research on these interesting critters after I sign off.