PLFA
Definition
PLFA stands for phospholipid fatty acids. These fatty acids are found in the cell membranes of living organisms.
Different groups of organisms have a unique composition of these (PLFA) fatty acids.
Fingerprinting
Measuring and quantifying the PLFAs can provide a fingerprint of the soil food web. For example, the cell membranes of fungi consist of different PLFAs to those associated with bacteria. The PLFAs present are measured and quantified using a gas chromotograph-MS.
PLFA diversity
PLFA diversity is the measure of diversity of organisms in the soil. The higher this number, the more resilient the soil is.
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