Enter your farm and crop information, then add each tillage pass used during the season. Select the tillage type and date for each pass. Review the tillage intensity results, then use the report option to save or share your results.
PLFA (Phospholipid Fatty Acid) analysis measures the living microbial community in soil by identifying specific fatty acids found in microbial cell membranes.
It provides a snapshot of:
Total microbial biomass
Microbial community structure
Relative abundance of key groups (bacteria, fungi, etc.)
PLFA helps you understand:
Soil biological activity
Diversity and balance of microbes
Soil ecosystem function and resilience
Unlike standard tests, PLFA focuses strictly on the living biology, not nutrients.
Beneficial fungi are soil fungi that form positive relationships with plants and the soil system, helping improve nutrient uptake, soil structure, and overall plant health.
In simple terms:
Beneficial fungi are the “underground partners” that help plants grow stronger while improving the soil.
Key types of beneficial fungi:
1. Mycorrhizal fungi (most important)
Attach to plant roots and extend into the soil
Help plants access water and nutrients (especially phosphorus)
Trade nutrients for plant sugars
👉 Think of them as a root extension system
2. Saprophytic fungi
Break down crop residue and organic matter
Help recycle nutrients back into the soil
Build stable soil carbon
👉 They are the decomposers
Soil bacteria are important because they rapidly break down organic material and release nutrients into forms plants can use, keeping the soil system active and productive.
The fungi:bacteria (F:B) ratio is important because it shows the balance of microbial communities in soil, which influences how nutrients cycle, how well soil holds structure, and how resilient the system is to stress.
You can submit samples through our trusted partner:
REGEN Ag Lab
