From: riburr@shentel.net   
      
   RustyHinge wrote:   
   > On 30/03/15 16:07, riburr wrote:   
   >> I started clearing the forest floor in my yard a couple years ago.  This   
   >> consisted of raking leaves and dead brush into small piles and burning   
   >> it.  Could only handle small areas at a time using this method. Progress   
   >> was slow.   
   >>   
   >> This year I've begun using a powered hedge trimmer and leaf blower.   
   >> Progress has sped up considerably.   
   >>   
   >> The thing is, the leaf blower can remove most of the forest duff   
   >> consisting of a layer a couple inches thick of decaying leaves and   
   >> sticks, down to what looks like more mineral soil.  Patches of mycelia   
   >> are often visible once the duff has been blown off.  The ashes remaining   
   >> after burning piles of leaves and debris are scattered more evenly by   
   >> using the leaf blower.   
   >>   
   >> My guess is this is a significant change in the ecology from previous   
   >> conditions.  I know forest fires are part of the natural environment,   
   >> but modern forestry uses extensive fire control, and even the use of   
   >> controlled or prescribed burns.  I'm wondering what effect clearing and   
   >> burning has on the mushroom population.  I've already noticed mushrooms   
   >> become much more visible.  Don't know if mushrooms will become more   
   >> viable and plentiful by clearing the forest floor, or if I can expect   
   >> different species to become more or less plentiful.   
   >>   
   > What you're blowing away, burning, etc is future years' crops. The only   
   > plus might be a few morels where you've burnt stuff.   
   >   
      
   So far this year the harvest doesn't seem to have changed much, maybe a   
   little less than normal due to lack of rain.  Precipitation is by far   
   the dominant variable determining numbers.  I see lots of cottony-white   
   mycelia across the surface of cleared ground.  Perhaps a leafy layer   
   might help these develop into mushrooms.  Otherwise, several days of   
   damp, wet weather is required, which is much less probable than the   
   presence of damp leaves in the forest had I not cleared them.  It should   
   be noted, the cleared area of forest floor in my yard is much less than   
   the area left untouched.  And, I am finding mycorrhizal mushrooms in   
   cleared areas.   
      
   --   
   Ruralpsychedelia:   
   http://ruralpsychedelia.blogspot.com   
      
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