Adding wild fungi to soil could make trees store more carbon

A loblolly pine plantation in the state of Georgia is the test site for a start-up company trying to see if improving the fungi and other microbes in soil can help trees grow bigger and faster

By James Dinneen

A start-up has begun planting fungi and other microbes in soil collected from intact forests at a tree plantation in Georgia. The effort to “rewild” the soil microbiome may help to grow healthier trees that store more carbon.

Fungi and other microbes in soil are important factors for tree growth and health. Many species of mycorrhizal fungi, for instance, have evolved to form symbiotic partnerships with certain tree species, helping roots access nutrients in exchange for carbohydrates produced by the trees that …