In every ecosystem, organic matter, which has been assembled by a living being, must be recycled so as to allow other living beings to dispose of the material necessary for its survival.
The first step of recycling is to break the material down into simple building blocks, the smallest possible, like molecules or atoms.
Secondly, these building blocks will be incorporated into other living beings. The more the decomposed organic matter is abundant in the soil, the more fertile it is because it contains all the molecules and atoms essential to living beings. So the faster the decomposition process, the more fertile the soil is and the more organisms will live in the ecosystem over time. Within ecosystems, organic matter is broken down according to two mechanisms: 1. Macro-predators feed on organic matter, which begins the recycling process. The role of any predator, both herbivorous and carnivorous, is to feed on organic matter which initiates the mechanical and chemical decomposition of this in building blocks in their stomachs and intestines. In this way, most predators disorganize living organic matter and make the molecules assimilable by themselves to add to their metabolism so as to maintain their homeostasis and growth. What they do not need or cannot digest is excreted. Already very fragmented, the secreted organic matter will be more easily ingested (or phagocytized) by other living organisms.
2. Microorganisms, which are predators living in the soil, have the same role as macro-predators, the only difference is that the scale of their food and feces is much smaller. Most of the feces of microorganisms such as nematodes are directly assimilated by the roots and roots of plants. Among these micro-organisms that allow the recycling of organic matter, important for forest ecosystems are saprophytic fungi, especially xylophages. Thanks to their lignin-modifying enzymes (Lems) such as lignases or other cellulase and hemicellulases, Xylophage fungi catalyze the degradation of highly stable polymers commonly found in plant cell walls, particularly in wood.
Once the xylophage fungi have degraded the stable wood compounds, the other soil microorganisms will be able to access and thus feed on the organic matter made accessible.
When the above two mechanisms occur successively the decomposition of organic matter is faster and its recycling more efficient. It is for this reason that, in La Evidencia, we want (i) to graze animals in the feeding forest; (ii) organized a place where saprophytic xylophage fungi believe on wooden logs. The advantages of such a place are:
1. When we prune the trees of the fruit forest as well as pergolas, the larger branches and trunks will be cut into logs and decomposed faster thanks to the mushrooms. In this way all the organic material produced will be quickly recycled in order to increase the number of living organisms over time in the ecosystem, and thus maximize its production. [If you want more information about the fruit forest, please click here] [If you want more information about pergolas, please click here]
2. In the logs, we will inoculate spores of fungi whose fructifications are edible and palatable to human taste. Oyster mushrooms, shiitake, maitake, polypores and lion’s mane mushrooms are just a few examples of the fungi that will extend the diversity of our diet to the various health benefits.
3. Once used as a substrate for mushroom production and degraded by Lems, the logs can be incorporated into the mulch. They will be recycled faster by the micro-fauna of the Mandala Gardens and will help increase soil fertility.