I was reading something on the web that said if tap water is left untreated it will kill all the beneficial microorganisms in my soil. Is this true? I have spent much time, money, and effort on soil additives that contain these little buggers. If it is true would a reverse osmosis system fix the problem, or is bubbling the water with aquarium paraphernalia the answer? Thanks folks....Team 42 appreciates it!

Tap water is not quite that dangerous to the fungi. I do filter my tap water thru a charcoal filter and decant for 12 hours before I use mine. Compaction is probably the more prevalent cause of bacterial loss. Here's a blurb on it...




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[SIZE="2"]Mycorrhizae is a symbiotic relationship between beneficial fungi and plants. Mycorrhizal fungi live in and around the roots of most plants. In exchange for sugars and simple carbohydrates, the mycorrhizal fungi absorb and pass on minerals and moisture required for the plant's growth.

Over tens of millions of years plants have developed this symbiotic relationship with the fungus to help them survive conditions of drought, extreme temperatures and periods of low soil fertility. Mycorrhizal fungi colonize a plant's living root system, in effect extending it further into the soil - sometimes by up to 1000%! By taking in nutrients and water and passing it on the roots, these organisms are a vital link in a plant's nutrient cycle.



In nature, mycorrhizal fungi are found on about 99% of plant species, but in urban environments, the poor, compacted soils often lack this essential fungi./SIZE]

just let your water sit out in the open for at least 24 hrs and you should be fine. those little pool ph tester things usually have chlorine tests too.

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I found this about mycorrhizae and soil PH, its targeted at grape growers, but still usefull.

Information Desk :: Mycorrhizae and Wine Grapes

So how can we manage vineyards for mycorrhyzas?
Things to avoid include:


- fumigation of soil, or long fallow periods, so mycorrhizal inocula are not reduced,


- stock propagated in soil-less media , which unlike field-grown stock, lacks native populations,


- high rates of fertilizer, which hurt mycorrhizal colonization,


- tillage may reduce mycorrhizal colonization indirectly, by renewing the relatively-immobile soil P closer to the vine. In contrast, shallow cultivation does not affect mycorrhiza adversely.



- a soil pH lower than 5.5 will likely depress mycorrhizal colonization and should be corrected.

Things to favor include:



- cover crops, which boost mycorrhizal inocula . (However, some species of cover crop, such as those in the mustard family and lupines, are not hosts for mycorrhizal fungi.)


I also found this chart on their site, it looks like we should be careful what products we buy. Of course it has their product as the best, but the variation in products is a lil scary.


Information Desk :: Common Mycorrhizal products tested
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Primary disinfection of your tap water is done with free chlorine.
Seondary disinfection is done with, among other goodies, adding
ammonia which, combines with chlorine to form a long-lasting
disinfectant called monochloramine.

Monochloramination, if not properly optimized, can result in nitrification (conversion of ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate) in the presence of bacteria. Nitrification can lower the pH of the water.

EPA ...its ok for everything, cooking, plants, bathing, pets...
um, but not fish, lizards, turtles ...

See, the chlorine wasn't lasting long enough in the delivery systems.

Nasty stuff and it hangs around.