Robin, Lloyd, Roger & Gil Have thoroughly enjoyed all of your comments and knowledge on this topic. Most of which have lead to further questions for myself.
Gil I would be interested to know how you are going about your research in this area. My thinking is not using sawmill waste, but more focused on the leaf litter, which seems to be an integral part of the Aussie bush. Leaf litter is in abundance in some areas which have not had fire go through for many years. Gil, does the fire kill off the fungi & bacteria or does encystment occur? The life that I see grow from leaf litter cultures never ceases to amaze me, then to find out that we are only aware of about 10% of the bacteria & fungi residing in Australian soils, makes me realise it is an area that is just beginning to get recognition. Robin has triggered yet another question. Seeing Eucalypts use a lot of phosphorous, is this not another solution to one of our major problems with our cultivated soils? Millions of tons of phosphorous locked up in our soil. Can't help but wonder would Eucalypts help that, or does it have to be unlocked before they can utilise it? Hence the research on white lupins to unlock the phosphorous. Have had heavy rain for the last hour, which will produce fungi of another kind, Slippery Jacks and Saffron Milk Caps for tea tonight. (Might as well make the most of the pines while they're here) Hoping the rain is widespread. L&L Liz
