I spread compost on my veggie patch today and noticed that there was a powdery substance in the compost. I'm wondering whether it is a type of fungus and if it will harm the soil.Can anyone shed any light on this? I would appreciate some info.
If it's homemade and you're aware of what you've put in it, then it's only going to be one of those ingredients decomposing in some way. It may well be a fungus or similar breaking down the organic matter, but it won't be harmful to your veg patch - it's just what composting is and does
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Almost certainly an Actinobacteria and my guess Streptomyces.
Actinobacteria are major contributors to biological buffering of soils and have roles in organic matter decomposition and conductive to crop production.
They grow when the temperature fluctuates within the heap that's why you should turn at regular intervals, not let it dry out to much and try to keep the temperature up.
Actinobacteria are every where and used a lot in human medicines penicillin is probably the best know.
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
That all sounds very scientific and interesting Gardeners Boy. Turning my heap is not an option in the wintertime as a hedgehog likes to rest up there in winter and there could be more than one this year!
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Is this compost that you have made or bought compost?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi Dovefromabove, the compost is homemade though I am careful what I put in it.
If it's homemade and you're aware of what you've put in it, then it's only going to be one of those ingredients decomposing in some way. It may well be a fungus or similar breaking down the organic matter, but it won't be harmful to your veg patch - it's just what composting is and does
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Probably some sort of fungus. Fungi spores are everywhere and most are either harmless or beneficial
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks so much for your replies folks, I won't worry about it now!
Might be micorrhizal fungi which is very good for plant roots. http://ccber.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/myco.JPG
Almost certainly an Actinobacteria and my guess Streptomyces.
Actinobacteria are major contributors to biological buffering of soils and have roles in organic matter decomposition and conductive to crop production.
They grow when the temperature fluctuates within the heap that's why you should turn at regular intervals, not let it dry out to much and try to keep the temperature up.
Actinobacteria are every where and used a lot in human medicines penicillin is probably the best know.
That all sounds very scientific and interesting Gardeners Boy. Turning my heap is not an option in the wintertime as a hedgehog likes to rest up there in winter and there could be more than one this year!
daydaisy I agree the hedgehog is much more important.