Fungi That Stick Around: How Regenerative Practices Preserve Soil Biology 

Every farmer wants higher yields, healthier plants, and better margins. But the ultimate goal? A system that sustains itself. 

That’s what regenerative agriculture—and especially mycorrhizal fungi—can help achieve. At Farm Fungi, we’ve worked with growers who, after several seasons of using our mycorrhizal inoculants and adopting soil-friendly practices, no longer need to reapply our product. The fungi persist, the biology cycles, and the soil starts to take care of itself.

This article explains how that process unfolds, and how farmers can make the transition from biological input dependence to natural biological resilience. 

Mycorrhizal Fungi: The Hidden Workhorse 

Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with over 80% of terrestrial plants. These fungi: 

● Extend root absorption through hyphal networks 

● Improve water retention and phosphorus uptake 

● Help plants resist stress and disease 

● Secrete glomalin, a protein that stabilizes soil structure and stores carbon 

According to New Phytologist (van der Heijden et al., 2015), these fungi evolved with plants and remain essential for natural nutrient cycles. 

Why Most Soils Start Broken 

Decades of tillage, anhydrous ammonia, fungicides, and compaction have left our soils depleted of biology. Without living fungal networks, roots remain shallow, fertilizer gets leached or tied up, and water use efficiency suffers. 

Trials and field reports—including those by Mike Petersen in Nebraska—show fungi-treated soils rebuild root zones quickly, boost root nodal counts, and improve moisture access from deeper soil layers. Over time, these improvements become the new baseline. 

How Fungi Become Self-Sustaining 

1. Reduce Soil Disruption 

Deep tillage tears fungal networks. Farmers moving to no-till or strip-till preserve hyphal webs season after season, allowing fungi to colonize crops naturally year over year. 

2. Limit Harmful Inputs 

Fungicides—especially those applied in-furrow or early-season—can destroy beneficial fungi. Switching to selective chemistries or modifying timing allows good biology to thrive. 

3. Rotate with Fungi-Friendly Crops 

Corn, wheat, sorghum, and soybeans all support mycorrhizal colonization. Avoid extended sequences of non-mycorrhizal crops (e.g., sugar beet, mustard, canola) unless fungi are reintroduced post-harvest. 

4. Use Cover Crops and Compost 

Cover crops keep root exudates flowing, which feed the fungi. Compost provides organic matter that supports microbial food webs. 

Over 3–5 seasons, consistent biological management turns depleted soils into vibrant, living systems that often no longer require re-inoculation.

Farmer Case Study: The Taper-Off Effect 

One long-term grower in North Dakota started applying Farm Fungi’s mycorrhizal blend in 2017. They also transitioned to strip-till and stopped using early fungicides. By 2022, their soil tests showed persistent colonization and improved CEC, tilth, and organic matter. They now apply fungi only to specific problem fields—or not at all. 

That’s not lost business for us—it’s our mission in action. 

Soil Biology That Pays for Itself 

Biological infrastructure, once rebuilt, is incredibly resilient. Instead of constantly applying fertilizer to compensate for missing function, farmers can: 

● Use less phosphorus and nitrogen 

● Improve yield stability year over year 

● Reduce costs without sacrificing production 

As soils become biologically active again, the ROI of mycorrhizal inoculation increases—especially when it becomes a jump-start to long-term regenerative change. 

Let the Soil Do the Work 

We want our fungi to stick around—not because you’re always buying more, but because they’re thriving in your soil. 

Regeneration isn’t just possible—it’s happening on thousands of acres right now. And it starts with feeding the soil the right biology. 

Works Cited: 

● van der Heijden, M.G.A., et al. (2015). “Mycorrhizal ecology and evolution: the past, the present, and the future.” New Phytologist, vol. 205, no. 4, pp. 1406–1423. 

● Petersen, M. (2022). Tassle-Early Silk Trial Report. Internal Field Data, New Age Farming. ● Soil Food Web Foundation. (n.d.). Magnificent Mycorrhizal Fungi. https://www.soilfoodweb.com