Full Soil and DNA Testing Services.
MSL Analysis offer a range of analytical services, we are at the forefront of innovative biotechnology for agriculture. We are continually progressing and developing our techniques to offer our customers a wide range of advanced analytical services, to help farms, forests and gardens thrive.
Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd. is the world's largest truffle research network, our technique is one of the most technologically advanced, through and scientific methods currently employed to cultivate the black truffle.
Benefits of soil and DNA testing
Doing a soil test will allow you to:
A DNA test will provide you with a 100% accurate result of the exact mycorrhiza growing on your roots, and therefore which truffle species is present.
If you need any kind of analysis for your soil, plants, fertiliser or if you need any other analytical services please contact us and we can tailor our services to best fit your needs.
If you need large scale analysis please contact us and we can arrange a suitable price.
Soil Testing for Truffle Growing
When growing your own truffles it is important to understand a little about the soil structure and chemistry of your intended site. Truffles spend most of their lives enclosed in soil, so it is essential to get the soil structure and pH correct so they can produce the best yield possible.
Soil testing for Farming
Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd provides a range of soil analysis packages. This analysis is an important aspect of the farming business and is the cornerstone of good agricultural practice. The information gained from the soil analysis means that farmers can alter their fertiliser to better aid the plants needs, thus increasing the yield and reducing environmental risk.
MSL realise that large quantities of samples need to be tested, we can arrange this and give you the best price possible, please contact us for a quote.
Soil Testing for Gardeners
Soil testing is also important in maintaining a healthy lawn and garden, if you are adding more nutrients than your lawn or garden requires then this could ultimately cost extra money and could harm your plants and contaminate the environment. MSL will test your soil and send you a report with details of how to alter your fertiliser and how to get the right pH, for more information please contact us.
MSL Analysis provide the following analytical soil tests, order now and we will send you all you need to be able to take your soil sample:
pH and L.R -
pH is a measure of the acidity of your soil, which is a vital factor affecting crops wellbeing. We analyse the pH and give you the lime requirements for you to attain the optimum pH for your crop.
Basic Soil Test - pH, L.R, P, K, Mg -
A measurement of your soils pH and key nutrients, this will help you tailor your fertilizers to maximise their impact on your crops.
Basic Soil Plus -
A more in depth measurement of your soils pH, lime requirements and more key nutrients (pH, L.R, P, K, Mg, Mn, Cu, B, S) this will help you tailor your fertilizers to maximise their impact on your crops.
Comprehensive (Broad Spectrum)-
A measurement of your soils pH and ALL soil nutrient levels (P, K, Mg, pH, L.R, Ca, S, Na, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mo, B, CEC). MSL identify your soil deficiencies and recommend corrective treatments specific to your crops.
Soil Structure -
Soil structure describes how individual soil granules clump or bind together and aggregate, and therefore, the arrangement of soil pores between them. Soil structure has a major influence on water and air movement, biological activity, root growth and seedling emergence.
Truffle Potential Report -
A full report on your soils potential to grow truffles based on pH and soil structure.
*all other elements for truffle cultivation offered through partnership and significant tree orders.
*LR = Lime Requirement
If you would like any other types of soil, plant, fertiliser or any other analytical service please contact us and we can tailor our services to best suit your needs. We can analyse compost, topsoil and plant matter to most standards.
£18 (inc VAT) Order Now
£25 (inc VAT) Order Now
£45 (inc VAT) Order Now
£65 (inc VAT) Order Now
extra £20 (inc VAT) Order Now
DNA Testing
Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd offers 100% accurate DNA testing of soil and tree samples, to detect the fruiting bodies for a number of truffle species, and to detect colonization of truffle species.
1. DNA testing of fruiting bodies for a number of truffle species, including: Tuber aestivum/uncinatum, Tuber melanosporum, Tuber magnatum, Tuber borchii, Tuber brumale, Tuber indicum.
2. DNA testing of the root-tips of trees - for colonization of the same species listed above.
3. Mycorrhiza visual inspection - Root tips are visually inspected for the colonisation of mycorrhiza.
If you would like DNA testing for anything else please get in contactwith us for a quote.
Plant Disease Testing.
This service is designed to diagnose plant diseases / insect damage for anyone who thinks that their plants may be infected or are not growing as well as they should be, or we can just provide a general plant heath check. MSL Analysis analyse the soil and plant material for bacterial, fungal, viral, nutrient deficiency and insect damage, we suggest appropriate control measures to rectify the problem.
MSL Analysis offer accurate disease diagnostics, professional service and up to date solutions. If you think you have an infected plant then it is crucial to get it diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. If you know what the pest/disease is before you take action then you can use more efficient control methods.
Insect infestation.
Does your plant have insect damage? If your crops have any signs or insect damage and you dont know what insect is causing it, then the best course of action is to send us some leaf and soil samples for us to analyse. We will test these samples and compare them to our extensive database to see which pest it is, we will then send you a full report detailing the insect/pest and give you advice of the best way to control it.
Basic Leaf Test
Your plants leaves are tested for N, P, K, Mg levels. We write a report on the findings giving you advice on the best course of action to take to get your plants healthier.
Broad Spectrum for all plants and crops
We analyse your plant matter to check for deficiencies in the following N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zu, Mo and B. We write a report on the findings giving you advice on the best course of action to take to get your plants healthier.
Full Potato Petiole
Analysing the nutrients (NO3, P, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, S, B) of your potato petioles (the stem that connects the leaves) gives a very accurate indication of your potatos fertility program, and ensures that enough nutrients are getting to the leaves.
Heavy Metal Contamination (for soil or plants)
Heavy metals can leach into your soil or plants from other sources and can be bad for their health and yours if you consume them. We test your plant or soil for Pb, Ni, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Cu and Zn and give you a report and advice on how to rectify the problem if necessary.
Please contact us for a Plant Health Test Order Form, and a price list.
£30 (inc VAT) Order Now
£35 (inc VAT) Order Now
£55 (inc VAT) Order Now
£85 (inc VAT) Order Now
Grants
Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd are well versed and experienced when it comes to finding and obtaining the grants that you are entitled to, we can help you with the full grant process. If you are planning on creating any woodland we can find and apply for grants to help you.
The planting density for the summer truffle is 1,100-1,600 trees per hectare. At this density the plantation qualifies for several grants; which significantly contribute to set-up and running costs. The grant system in England is outlined below; similar grants are available in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Woodland Creation Grant (WCG):
This grant provides £1,800 per ha for the establishment of broadleaved trees (for plantations of less than 10ha). There is also an additional contributions payment available under certain circumstances.
Farm Woodland Payments (FWP):
This scheme offers annual payments to compensate for agricultural income foregone. Annual rates of pay vary with circumstance.
SPS Entitlements
The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) was introduced through the Common Agricultural Policy. It replaced the system of subsidies paid to farmers. The old system was based on production, but SPS is based on the area of land farmed.
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship (ES) is a government scheme that offers financial rewards for good stewardship and management of the land to improve the quality of the environment.
Area Payment for Nuts Scheme
Payments for the Area Payment for Nuts Scheme (APNS) are linked to the area of eligible nuts grown. APNS is separate to the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), allowing you to make a claim on any nut orchard of a minimum plot size of 0.1 hectares on which you grow nuts.
If you have any questions or queries about what we could do for you, please don't hesitate to contact us at shop_mycorrhizalsystems.com or via our contact page.
News
Dr Paul Thomas (our managing director) has appeared on several TV programmes, radio shows and in many written articles. Specific areas of expertise include entrepreneurship and the biology, cultivation, hunting and cooking methods of the wide range of truffle species.
Dr Thomas also has many years of expertise in collecting and cooking a vast range of unusual edible fungi. These range from those the size and shape of footballs to the glow-in-the-dark and unusually flavoured, including aniseed and apricots.
If you would like an interview or require an expert/presenter for features and articles then please contact Dr Thomas paul_plantationsystems.com
Radioactive Truffles
The 1986 Chernobyl disaster spewed out tonnes of radioactive fallout into the air, this has spread across Europe. Radioactive Cesium-137 is still settling in Württemberg (South West Germany), and has reached the optimum concentration to contaminate truffles and other mushrooms.
Boars that have foraged on the contaminated truffles/mushrooms in Southern Germany have been found to be too radioactive for human consumption.
The even more worrying news is that the warmer weather in southern Germany has increased the boars population fivefold in only a few years. Oak and beech trees which grow symbiotically with truffles are flourishing as well as crops like corn and rape, which the boars can feast on.
This story outlines the striking effect that soil has on its crops, MSL Analysis can test your soil and plants for heavy metal contamination. If you suspect that any heavy metals or radioactive fallout have leached into your soil its crucial that you get it tested and corrected as soon as possible.
DNA Testing Price Cut.
Due to new found technological advances in DNA Testing we are pleased to announce that we can slash the price from £95 to £65. The testing is 100% accurate and a full written report with images is provided.
Romania, the truffle basket of Europe?
The summer or burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum/uncinatum) is a species with a huge market and a wide geographic spread. Wild finds of this species have been recorded from areas as diverse as Northern Africa to Russia. With a flavour that variesthrough the season, early summer varieties are often mildly flavoured and quite clean on the palate, while those harvested from late summer onwards can be really quite intense - in a similar vein to the Perigord truffle (Tuber melanosporum).
Truffles, sex and DNA
For those in the know, a recent article in the prestigious science journal, Nature, has caused waves in the truffle world. Having no less than 50 authors, this excellent piece of research helps to start to answer some of the current questions in truffle research. One of the big questions has been whether the truffle itself is responsible for its complex aroma or whether it is other organisms that call the truffle fruiting body home. Through sequencing the genome it can now be conclusively stated that the truffle itself is responsible for the majority of its heady scent -
About Truffle Cultivation
One of the most important aspects in successful truffle farming is choosing the correct site and preparing the land...
Climate
The summer truffle tolerates a broad range of climatic conditions and has been recorded growing all over the UK. The summer truffle is also suited to other global climates, and we have research and data indicating a large number of countries which are suitable for plantations. Many of our Partners assist in our research by providing us with information from data loggers and weather stations on a regular basis.
Soil conditions
The truffle requires quite alkaline conditions with pH values of 7.6-7.9 are ideal and land with a bedrock of limestone or chalk normally have excellent conditions. However, most soils can have their pH raised by agricultural liming. We have worked with several plantations to raise the soil from pH 4.9 to 7.9, using our bespoke Liming Protocols. The truffle tolerates a broad range of other soil conditions, but the site should not be prone to flooding and free-draining soils are generally considered best - although there have been some good reports from clay soils. We also fully analyse trace element levels for a more in depth overview of your land.
Proximity to established trees
Please note, due to research conducted and presented throughout 2007 we have proved that proximity to other trees is not of as great an importance as previously thought for the summer truffle. Whilst it is still good practice to leave a good distance between established trees and the newly planted truffle trees (or a polythene barrier dug-in to a depth of 0.5m) we no longer believe this to be essential, although this is dependent on the sites condition.
Irrigation
Although not essential in countries with high rainfall, ideally the site should be irrigated in dryer zones. This is primarily to ensure that the trees survive their first few years after planting. As part of the Partnership Programme we at Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd will gather all the ground data for you (pH analysis, soils analysis, rainfall data) and advise you.
Weed suppression
Prior to planting the site should be shallow ploughed. After planting, weeds should be suppressed to ensure the health and survival of the saplings.
If you would like to pursue our Partnership Programme further, then please contact us with the size of the plantation you are considering, location of the site and the pH (if known) of your soil, or visit our website : www.plantationsystems.com
If you have any questions then please get in touch our contact details are:
shop_mycorrhizalsys tems.com
Tel: +44 (0)1422 844 095
Fax: +44 (0)1422 844 095
Company number: 5363860 Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd.
Registered in the United Kingdom
www.PlantationSystems.com
