Phospholipid Fatty Acid Analysis Phospholipids are essential membrane components of all living cells Viable microbes have an intact membrane which contains fatty acids as components of its phospholipids PLFA analysis is done through a chemical extraction process and analyzed on a gas chromatograph Phospholipids make up a relatively constant proportion of the biomass of organisms Rapid changes in microbial community structure can be detected by changes in PLFA patterns

PLFA data from Bradford Research Center Soil is from 5 soil pits all within a stone’s throw of each other, top 2 inches of soil, taken from the crop row or next to plants 1- Soybeans- field has been in continuous tillage for over 50 years 2- Switchgrass- field was in fescue for many years then tilled for a few years and is now planted with prairie plants 3- No-till corn- field was tilled for a few years but has been no-till the past few years 4- Hedgerow- woody plants such as sumac have grown up in an old fencerow 5- Fescue field- long-term fescue with sporadic mowing