White noise makes soil fungi grow faster
It is estimated that around 75% of soils around the world are degraded. Scientists in Australia hope to repair them with sound. Researchers at Finders University in Adelaide investigated the effects of acoustic stimulation on fungal biomass and organic matter decomposition – both crucial components of ecosystem functioning. They also assessed the effect of acoustic stimulation on the growth rate and sporulation of the plant growth-promoting fungus Trichoderma harzianum.
The team played 70 dB and 90 dB soundscape treatments (at 8 kHz) to teabags in compost in for eight hours per day for 14 days to test whether acoustic stimulation affected fungal biomass and organic matter decomposition.
They also played a monotone soundscape (80 dB @ 8 kHz) over five days to Trichoderma harzianum to assess whether this stimulation affected the growth rate and sporulation of this fungus (control samples received only ambient sound stimulation <30 dB).
The results revealed that acoustic stimulation treatments resulted in increased fungal biomass, greater decomposition, and enhanced T. harzianum conidia (spore) activity.
“These results indicate that acoustic stimulation influences soil fungal growth and potentially facilitates their functioning,” wrote Jake Robinson, a restoration ecologist who specialises in ecoacoustics at Finders University in Adelaide, who led the study. “Our study highlights the potential of acoustic stimulation to alter important functional soil components, which could, with further development, be harnessed to aid ecosystem restoration.
Image: Getty/Andreas Häuslbetz