Mycelium-Driven Soil Recovery: Sustainable Solutions for Post-Disaster Agriculture

Commodities

Practices

The proposed solution will use fungi to accelerate the decomposition of woody debris into organic matter and improve soil health. The project will use wine cap spawn to inoculate the woody debris generated from downed trees caused by Hurricane Helene. This organic material would otherwise be sent to landfills or could become fuel for future wildfires.  

By inoculating this debris, the fungi will begin decomposing the lignin and cellulose into humus, enriching the soil with organic matter. Fungi also partner with plants, bacteria, and soil microorganisms to enhance nutrient exchange and soil fertility. The binding action of mycelium also improves soil structure by encouraging the formation of soil aggregates and increasing porosity. The resulting nutrient-rich compost will improve water retention, reduce erosion, and promote the growth of healthy crops. The mushrooms themselves may also yield additional harvests that can be sold or donated to further support farmers and food-insecure communities during this time of recovery. 

Mushroom-inoculated mulch will be applied to depleted soils at three on-farm locations to study how it affects soil regeneration, nutrient availability, and crop health. Over the course of the project, we will collect data on soil quality indicators such as organic carbon content, fertility, microbial activity, and crop yields. Researchers will perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine how this method compares with large-scale application of deep compost.

This solution aligns with sustainable agricultural practices by:

- Reducing waste through the use of downed trees and debris as a resource.

- Closing nutrient cycles by integrating fungi to create compost that improves soil health.

- Providing an adaptive response to climate change by rebuilding soil structure quickly and cost-effectively after environmental disasters.

This project will analyze whether mushroom facilitated breakdown of woody debris is a viable method for cost-effective organic matter creation. 

We will select 3 farms (Flying Cloud Farm, R Farm, and Ivy Creek Family Farm) in the storm-impacted region for our study sites. These farms all experienced catastrophic flooding that stripped away topsoil.

In late winter of the first year, farmers will take soil samples to determine baseline activity at each site. Farmers will collect and mulch woody debris from downed trees. Ideally this mulch will be mostly composed of hardwood species and will be chipped into small diameter mulch. 

Mycologists from Black Trumpet Farm will purchase initial cultures of wine cap spawn and propagate them into larger quantities using free sawdust procured from local woodworkers. The sawdust will be sterilized by the autoclave and stored in specialized polyethylene bags. 

In early spring, farmers will use tractors with a bucket attachment to spread the mulch to a depth of 4-8 inches into three rows measuring 10 ft wide by 42 ft long. There will be four treatment blocks in each row measuring 10 ft long by 4 ft wide. Each row will serve as a replicate in the RCBD design. The treatment blocks in each row will be separated by rake and marked with rebar and flagging tape. The study area will be irrigated with overhead sprinklers to fully moisten the mulch layer. Sawdust spawn will be spread at a rate of 10 lbs of spawn per 10 bed feet. The mulch remaining in the pathways will be raked on top of the treatment blocks to cover the spawn and the entire area will be irrigated again. 

Four treatments at each location will be placed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD):

• Mulch and spawn
• Mulch and spawn covered with straw
• Mulch and spawn covered with landscape fabric
• Control: mulch only, no spawn

In spring through fall of 2025-2026, researchers will monitor the mycelial colonization of the mulch and note any instances of mushroom fruiting. Researchers will also document stages of mulch decomposition. In winter of both years, additional soil sampling will be performed to measure key indicators of soil health. Potential measurements include:

In spring of 2026, cucurbits will be direct-seeded into the treatment rows (with 1 cup of compost added, or in soil blocks? Discuss with farm partners). Germination rates will be measured one week after planting. At harvest, cucurbits will be weighed and evaluated for quality.

In winter of 2026, data will be analyzed with SAS to determine if there were significant differences in soil health and organic matter content following mushroom induced decomposition. Statistical analyses will also be used to determine if yields and crop quality differed between treatments. Findings will be shared through field days, workshops, and online platforms to promote the adoption of this method across the Southern region.