Jump to content

Do certain tree species prevent mushroom growth?


Recommended Posts

This weekend I went hunting in a new location, and found basically nothing.  There were some mushrooms here and there, and large swaths of land that had absolutely nothing at all.  Aside from the trees that were predominantly in these areas, the terrain was much similar to other places I've gone to.

Bad luck?  Bad trees? Something else?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suspect that it has more to do with soil conditions than tree species, unless you are dealing with a monoculture.  I live near a forest of mostly alder, cherry, and cottonwood trees that has practically no mushrooms growing from the ground; but I've found plenty of mushrooms in similar habitats in other parts of the Lower Mainland.  Conifer and mixed conifer/deciduous woods seem to produce more mushrooms than deciduous only, at least for fall mushrooms.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have heard that it can takes decades for mushrooms to grow in an area previous grazed by cattle.  In our area Aspen and white spruce quickly grow in field that is abandoned. Eventually, lesser numbers of  red maple, small willows, balsam fir  and occasionally ash or oak will follow.

There is a ten acre area on my property that was obviously grazed by cattle 20 years ago. It is filling in quickly with trees but there are zero mushrooms still.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would wonder about Black Walnut. It produces a toxin that kills plants around it, but I don’t know if that toxin effects fungi.  
 

Also wondering if cattle grazing causes soil compaction which inhibit spore inoculation. Horse grazing does not seem to have that effect. The most heavily grazed part of my pasture produced a plentiful supply of meadow mushrooms after each rain (very dry summer here). 
 

Obviously the mycorrhizal species would not likely colonize until their associated tree species appear.  And even then, spores would have to be blown in. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, Kevin Hoover said:

Obviously the mycorrhizal species would not likely colonize until their associated tree species appear.  And even then, spores would have to be blown in. 

This seems to be the most obvious reason for there being mushrooms in similar wooded settings and not in others.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And most edible polypores seem to grow on more mature trees. And getting mature trees takes many years. 
 

I’m lucky to have a mixed property of pastures, yards, pine swath, mostly deciduous woods, and floodplain. In the last year since I stated hunting mushrooms I’ve found chanterelles, oysters, chicken of the woods, reshi, meadow mushrooms, mica caps, puffballs, suillus and milkies on my property. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/27/2020 at 9:52 AM, JOHNY said:

I have heard that it can takes decades for mushrooms to grow in an area previous grazed by cattle.  In our area Aspen and white spruce quickly grow in field that is abandoned. Eventually, lesser numbers of  red maple, small willows, balsam fir  and occasionally ash or oak will follow.

There is a ten acre area on my property that was obviously grazed by cattle 20 years ago. It is filling in quickly with trees but there are zero mushrooms still.

I've had really good yields in pastures containing aspen and spruce.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Here's an article that may help.  Trees play a massive role in what grows.

This is a quote from the article:

"A successful foray depends on successful hunting. Successful hunting demands an understanding of your prey. Identifying the area trees and plants can save you countless hours of fruitless searching, for mushrooms that wouldn’t dare associate with the habitat you’re foraging in."

Chris Herrera

https://www.fungimag.com/fall-2014-articles/TreesOfNWLR.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines | We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.