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I worked in a mycorrhiza research lab for a year so I know a little but it is a very complex area of research with lots of conflicting data. Generally I would say completely sterilising soil would be a bad thing (and pretty impossible, fungi are tough things, you are unlikely to kill everything), not only do you kill off anything beneficial that might be in there but you also ruin the soil structure and potentially create toxins from the breakdown of compounds in the soil during the heating of the soil. The only way to avoid these side effects would be irradiating the soil which I'm guessing most of us don't have the facility to do. Only reason I could see for doing it would be to kill off weed seeds. A good place to start to learn about all things fungal is "Entangled Life" by Merlin Sheldrake, there's a good section on Mycorrhizas in there amongst other things.
I do not know a lot about this, yet. I have misgivings about sterilizing soil and as a low input nursery am constant asking myself if what I am doing to grow and care for my plants is necessary or useful. I love Roots and All and am behind in my listening, so thanks for the reminder!
I’ve just listened to this podcast and it has backed up all my ideas about micorrhizal fungi and sterilising compost. I don’t know a huge amount on this subject but have always felt it was unnecessary and controlling to sterilise soil then add fertilisers. I plan on using non sterilised loam and leaf mould as potting mix as well as selling plants from open ground, I think this will suffice and not impact the biological system already in place.
I would love to know what you all think or if anyone knows a great deal on soil and micorrhiza to get in touch for the zine.