AGGREGATION OF SOIL BY FUNGAL HYPHAE

Several authors have proposed that soils are made up of aggregates of various sizes, stabilised by different organic and inorganic materials . Fungal hyphae have been shown to bind microaggregates (<250 mu m dia meter) into macroaggregates (>250 mu m diameter). This paper examines the aggregation of soil clay by saprophytic (Rhizoctonia solani and Hy alodendron sp.) and mycorrhizal (Hymenoscyphus ericae and Hebeloma sp. ) fungi. The results support the hypothesis that fungal hyphae bring m ineral particles and organic materials together to form stable microag gregates at least <2 mu m, and enmesh microaggregates into stable aggr egates >50 mu m diameter.