Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TDG-FOR-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1.5 to 10 ratio
Optimal Range: 1.5 to 10
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 8 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 7 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

For well-managed sites demonstrating high environmental health within the target biome and land use, using PLFA or DNA analytical methods, an F:B ratio is likely to fall within an inferred range of 1.5 to 5.0. In exceptionally well-managed, mature stands... this ratio could potentially be higher, possibly approaching or even exceeding 5.0, perhaps up to 10.0.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial (F:B) ratio of soil microbial biomass measured by PLFA or DNA methods

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the typical range of fungal to bacterial biomass ratio in soil for well-managed temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands under production forestry, indicating a healthy, fungally dominated soil microbial community.

Justification:

Based on established ecological principles and data from analogous temperate forest ecosystems, a healthy, sustainably managed temperate woodland or forest system is expected to be fungally dominated.

Sources (1)

Preview of Tillage Practices and Residue Management Manipulate Soil Bacterial and Fungal Communities and Networks in Maize Agroecosystems - PubMed Central
Tillage Practices and Residue Management Manipulate Soil Bacterial and Fungal Communities and Networks in Maize Agroecosystems - PubMed Central Journal

The Impact of Tree Species on Microbial Community Structure and ...

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Supporting Sources (16)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The pH of Australian soils: field results from a national survey - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,
(PDF) The pH of Australian soils: field results from a national survey - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Caritat, P. de, & Cooper, M. (2011). The pH of Australian soils: Field results from a national survey. Soil Research, 49, 172-182.

View Source
Preview of AusEarthed. (n.d.). Soil Reading.
AusEarthed. (n.d.). Soil Reading.
Contextual Support Journal

Victorian Resources Online | Resources | Support and resources ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

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Preview of ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology, accessed July 18, 2025
ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology

View Source
Preview of Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed, accessed July 28, 2025,
Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed, accessed July 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Contrasting soil microbial abundance and diversity on and between pasture drill rows in the third growing season after sowing - CSIRO Research Publications Repository
Contrasting soil microbial abundance and diversity on and between pasture drill rows in the third growing season after sowing - CSIRO Research Publications Repository
Contextual Support Journal

Contrasting soil microbial abundance and diversity on and between pasture drill rows in the third growing season after sowing - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

View Source
Preview of Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest ...
Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest ...
Contextual Support Journal

Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest ...

View Source
Preview of Early evidences of links between soil microbes and forest restoration through multiple ecosystem metrics - Frontiers
Early evidences of links between soil microbes and forest restoration through multiple ecosystem metrics - Frontiers
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Early evidences of links between soil microbes and forest restoration through multiple ecosystem metrics - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ON SOIL CARBON ..., accessed on June 7, 2025
EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ON SOIL CARBON ..., accessed on June 7, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Effects of Management Practices on Soil Microbial Diversity and ..., accessed on June 7, 2025,
Effects of Management Practices on Soil Microbial Diversity and ..., accessed on June 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Effects of Management Practices on Soil Microbial Diversity and Structure on Eucalyptus Plantations - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Effects of Wildfire and Harvest Disturbances on Forest Soil Bacterial ...
Effects of Wildfire and Harvest Disturbances on Forest Soil Bacterial ...
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Effects of Wildfire and Harvest Disturbances on Forest Soil Bacterial ...

View Source
Preview of Estimation of biomass burning emission of NO 2 and CO from 2019–2020 Australia fires based on satellite observations - ACP - Recent
Estimation of biomass burning emission of NO 2 and CO from 2019–2020 Australia fires based on satellite observations - ACP - Recent
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Estimation of biomass burning emission of NO 2 and CO from 2019–2020 Australia fires based on satellite observations - ACP - Recent

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Preview of How to Identify a Healthy Forest - Sustainable Forest Management
How to Identify a Healthy Forest - Sustainable Forest Management
Contextual Support

How to Identify a Healthy Forest - Sustainable Forest Management

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming
Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 16, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The ecological roles of logs in Australian forests and the potential ...
The ecological roles of logs in Australian forests and the potential ...
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The ecological roles of logs in Australian forests and the potential ...

View Source
Preview of Things you need to know about the Fungal to Bacterial Ratio (F:B) - MicroBiometer, accessed July 28, 2025
Things you need to know about the Fungal to Bacterial Ratio (F:B) - MicroBiometer, accessed July 28, 2025
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

Range inferred for PLFA or DNA analytical methods. Values may be higher in exceptionally well-managed mature stands.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-FOR-SFB family.

1 ratio Moderate
Production Forestry · Conservation Target · Woodland
MinimumOnly Active v1