What AMF Levels Can Tell You About Your Soil Health

What AMF Levels Can Tell You About Your Soil Health

When we talk about soil health, most conversations focus on nutrients like N, P, and K. But soil biology also plays a major role in how efficiently your crop can access those nutrients. One important biological measurement included in EarthOptics testing is arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).

Why AMF Matters

EarthOptics measures key AMF groups like Rhizophagus, Glomus, Diversispora, and Gigaspora. These beneficial fungi form a relationship with plant roots that helps expand the effective root system, allowing crops to better access nutrients like phosphorus, zinc, copper, sulfur, nitrogen, and water.

In simple terms, strong AMF activity can help improve nutrient efficiency, support root development, and build better soil structure.

Low AMF Levels Could Mean:

• Reduced nutrient efficiency
• Poor root colonization
• Limited access to immobile nutrients like phosphorus
• Higher stress risk during tough growing conditions 

These lower levels are often linked to factors growers are already familiar with, such as aggressive tillage, soil disturbance, saturated conditions, heavy fungicide use, or excessive phosphorus applications.

Why This Matters for Your Operation

If you’ve already invested in fertility, it makes sense to make sure your soil biology is helping you get the most out of it. Let’s look at your EarthOptics report together and talk through what it means for your farm.

Contact Red Cedar Ag today to review your soil data and build a plan for 2026.