Fanfare for the common fungus - good vibrations boost soil health

Keen gardeners, including the British King himself, have long claimed that plants like being spoken to and in fact grow faster when stimulated by sound. It's a claim that's been backed up by a number of academic findings.

Now, a new study has found that the same is true for fungi. 

Researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia blasted loud, low-frequency sounds at teabags buried in compost for eight hours a day across a two-week period. It triggered a rapid acceleration in fungal growth. 

"This research surprised us when one common plant growth-promoting fungi increased its initial number of spore cells biomass by almost five times compared to the control group where soundwaves were at ambient levels," explained Dr Jake Robinson, a microbial ecologist who co-authored the study.

Heavy Metal microbes

The experiment was repeated in petri dishes in a laboratory where the scientists measured five times more spore activity in cultures exposed to 80 decibels of monotone sound. 

"It might be that microbes, including fungi, can convert the soundwave energy into an electrical charge, which stimulates their activity," said Christian Cando-Dumancela, who also worked on the study. 

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'Eco-acoustics'

Fungal biomass and the decomposition of organic matter are crucial components of ecosystems, boosting soil health and thereby encouraging plant growth. Robinson said the new findings fall within an emerging scientific discipline known as 'eco-acoustics'.

He explained: "Our study also highlights the importance of soundscapes in nature. We can now listen to the sounds of tiny animals as an indicator of soil health, but we might also be able to apply sound to improve soil health," Robinson says. "More than 75 percent of the world's soils are degraded, so we need to take radical steps to reverse the trend and start restoring biodiversity."

Reversing soil degradation is a major part of the United Nations' Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to restore ecosystems and biodiversity. However, it can take soil microbes decades to fully recover from over-farming, pollution and water loss. The researchers say the ability to accelerate that recovery is an exciting development. 

"Studies into restoration ecology are paving the way for improved native vegetation regrowth – including the reintroduction of lost species," said Associate Professor Martin Breed, another of the report's co-authors. "Our research into the potential of stimulating soil microbial activity harnesses other innovative possibilities to help restore nature."

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