Hydraulic Properties of Sands Treated with Fungal Mycelium of Trichoderma virens
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 11
Abstract
Filamentous fungi grow by extending and branching hyphae through soil pores, which creates an interconnected fibrous network known as mycelium. Fungal mycelium can cross-link and entangle soil particles, which reduces pore size and alters pore structures. Fungal mycelium also can secrete hydrophobic compounds, increasing the water repellency of soils. This study investigated the effect of fungal mycelium on the hydraulic properties of sands, including the soil-water retention curve (SWRC), soil water repellency, and hydraulic conductivity. Ottawa , , and sands were treated with a filamentous, nonpathogenic, and saprotrophic fungus, Trichoderma virens (ATCC 9645). The results showed that fungal mycelia increased air entry suction by as much as 11.8 times, and increased water repellency at the sand surface from hydrophilic to extreme water repellency after 10 days of fungal growth. Hydraulic conductivities of fungal-treated sands decreased (by as much as 21 times at 20 days of fungal growth) with increasing fungal contents. The reduced hydraulic conductivities of fungal-treated sands can be maintained even under starvation condition (i.e., absence of nutrients). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that fungal mycelia modified pore structures by cross-linking and entangling sand particles.
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Data Availability Statement
The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the support of the Louisiana Board of Regents Research Competitiveness Subprogram under Grant No. 039A-19. The authors also thank the LSU Shared Instrumentation Facility for providing help with SEM imaging, and the Louisiana Transportation Research Center for allowing the use the Fredlund SWCC device.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 11 • November 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 19, 2022
Accepted: Jun 23, 2023
Published online: Aug 23, 2023
Published in print: Nov 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jan 23, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Environmental engineering
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydraulic conductivity
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic properties
- Hydrologic engineering
- Hydrology
- Microbes
- Organisms
- Pollution
- Sand (hydraulic)
- Sandy soils
- Soil mechanics
- Soil pollution
- Soil properties
- Soil treatment
- Soil water
- Soils (by type)
- Water and water resources
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