No matter how wonderful mycorrhizal technology is, a grower needs to be able to incorporate it within their established production protocols for it to be considered and potentially adopted. I just returned from the last of this fall’s distributor booking shows. When I am at one of these shows or when I visit a grower in person, the most common question I receive is which mycorrhizae application protocols best fit within my existing production protocols.
When I visit a grower, I typically get a tour of their facility and can ask questions. This information helps me develop tailored mycorrhizae application protocols for their business. Since this article is a virtual method for conveying my suggestions, I will cover a variety of options that you can pick from for your operation. If you would like more individualized suggestions or to get some specific questions answered, please call 866-476-7800 or email us at inquiries@mycorrhizae.com, and one of our team will be happy to help.
Methods for the incorporation of mycorrhizal fungi
Plug/Liner Dip
This option is typically reserved for smaller growers. These growers tend to purchase a 1 lb. bag of MycoApply Ultrafine Endo or MycoApply Ultrafine Endo/Ecto. A plug dip can be made by mixing a suspension of two (2) ounces of either MycoApply product with five (5) gallons of water (3.12 grams per liter). Each tray should then be immersed (roots only) in the suspension for 10-15 seconds, just long enough for the root balls to absorb the liquid. You probably have noticed that I used the word suspension instead of solution. The mycorrhizae in the Ultrafine products and the clay carrier will only go into suspension. If you choose this application method, it is suggested you keep the suspension agitated so the clay and the mycorrhizae stay suspended.
For those growers that use a plug dip as a standard protocol to apply other biological products, the MycoApply mycorrhizae can be added to drench water with no issues. The clay and mycorrhizae should not cause phytotoxicity if they get on the plant’s foliage.
If a grower treats newly arrived plant material, the symbiosis clock is activated upon its arrival. So, if you are backed up in planting, treat immediately and let the process proceed while you get caught up in your planting. The plant will start to benefit from the mycorrhizal association sooner (typically takes 3-4 weeks), and this early establishment can potentially help at the time of transplant. An additional three to four weeks are typically needed before the grower will start to see differences in a finished container size.
Drench (No Injector)
Drench is recommended for growers who don’t want to do a plug/liner dip and do not have an injector. It is suggested you follow the mixing instructions listed below, but instead of creating a bath to dip your plugs, you mix the suspension in a watering can and apply it as a drench.
| Watering Container Size | Amount of Ultrafine Needed |
| 5 gallons | 2 ounces |
| 2.5 gallons | 1 ounce |
| 1 gallon | 0.4 ounce |
Injector Drench
Medium to larger growers will find that using an injector to apply a mycorrhizal inoculant drench is their best option. The suggested greenhouse product for this application method is Injector Endo Organic. For nurseries and conifer seedling producers, Injector Ecto is the recommendation. Conifers and select hardwood trees develop relationships with Ecto mycorrhizal fungi. Check this reference guide if you are unsure which mycorrhizal type is best for the plants you grow. It lists plants by family, genera, and common name.
Twenty (20) grams of each product will produce 100 gallons of drench using a 1 to 100 injector ratio. Each package of Injector products comes with a 20-gram scoop. One hundred gallons of drench will typically drench three hundred plus plug/liner trays. If you don’t need to treat 300-plus trays, you can use your measuring scale to determine the product you need.
| Number of plug trays treated | Amount of Injector Products Needed | Amount of Drench |
| 25 | 1.667 grams | 8 gallons |
| 50 | 3.33 grams | 17 gallons |
| 100 | 6.66 grams | 33 gallons |
| 150 | 10 grams (half a scoop) | 50 gallons |
The carrier (humic acid) is soluble in both the Injector products. The mycorrhizae propagules are the only component of the product that goes into suspension.
If you want to drench containers larger than a plug/liner tray, take a look at page one of this handout. The rates are the same for both Injector Endo Organic and Injector Ecto.
Injector Drench via Boom Sprayer
The ratios for application are the same as those listed above for both the Injector products when applied via a boom sprayer. However, we have developed specific application rate information for both per 1,000 square feet and per 100 square meters in our mycorrhizae application protocols. That information is listed on page two of the handout. The rates are the same for both Injector Endo Organic and Injector Ecto.
When applying any MycoApply products, DO NOT use filters or screens finer than #50 mesh (297 Microns). This word of warning is particularly true for applications via boom sprayers.
Soil Incorporation
For those growers who make their own mix or who buy a pre-mix and can incorporate an additive (an extra hopper), soil incorporation is a great option. MycoApply Endo and MycoApply Endo/Ecto are two great choices for soil incorporation. Both are granular products with a consistency similar to clay cat litter. The incorporation rate is 0.95 lbs. per cubic yard of soil or 0.57 grams per liter of soil. The goal is to incorporate 75 endo propagules per liter of soil. All of this information is included in this handout.
Purchase a Growing Media with Mycorrhizae
I often hear from growers that they have already purchased growing media with mycorrhizae. The first question I ask, does the growing media company list the mycorrhizae incorporation rate on the label. If they don’t, you don’t know if enough mycorrhizal fungi are in the mix to provide the optimized benefits. As I stated earlier, our mycorrhizal application protocols recommend 75 endo propagules per liter of soil. That means an expanded 3.8 bale of mix should have 16,565 propagules to match the Mycorrhizal Applications suggested rate.
Simply put, if the incorporation rate is not listed or the rate is lower than what has been outlined. It is best to apply the MycoApply mycorrhizae at our suggested rate to ensure a sufficient concentration of propagules. You cannot overapply a mycorrhizal fungi application. As a grower, you are looking for a positive response from the mycorrhizae in your timeframe for producing the crop. If the concentrations are low, you delay the significance of the impact of the mycorrhizal treatment.
Rather than pay a premium for a pre-mix with mycorrhizal fungi and not get the concentrations of mycorrhizal fungi you need to make a difference in your crop, it might make sense to buy a pre-mix with no mycorrhizal fungi additives, then apply the MycoApply mycorrhizal fungi via your desired application method. By following these mycorrhizae application protocols, you know the mycorrhizal fungi are in the growing media you are using at the appropriate rate. Word to the wise, if the growing media company does not charge more for a mix with an additive, you have to wonder how much of the additive they are adding to the growing media.
Keys to Success
No matter the method you select to apply MycoApply mycorrhizae, the key to success is to ensure the propagules are near the growing plant roots. The further apart the roots and propagules are, the longer you must wait for the symbiosis to start. This is the key to success when customizing the mycorrhizal applications protocols to your operation.
One of the criteria that separates mycorrhizae use from other biologicals is that you apply mycorrhizal fungi only ONCE during production. The sooner you apply the mycorrhizae, the sooner you and the plant benefit.
Lastly, most commercial soil-applied fungicides do not impact mycorrhizal growth. A more detailed list of soil-applied fungicides and their impact on mycorrhizae is available on the website. In general, the longer you wait to apply any chemical fungicide after inoculation, the better for mycorrhizal fungi development. Most foliar fungicides (except systemics such as Bayleton) have little effect on mycorrhizal fungi.
Start using MycoApply Mycorrhizae this spring.
The time to get started using mycorrhizae is now. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about mycorrhizal application protocols or MycoApply Mycorrhizae. You can call 866-476-7800 or email us at inquiries@mycorrhizae.com.
Article written by Blair Busenbark, Technical Sales, Key Accounts & Strategic Initiatives, Mycorrhizal Applications, Blair.Busenbark@mycorrhizae.com.
