Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TSW-AGR-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.8 to 1.2 index
Thresholds: Lower: 0.4, Upper: 2
Optimal Range: 0.8 to 1.2
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark of 0.8 – 1.2 represents a balanced system that supports annual crops (grasses) by providing the structural and nutrient retention benefits of fungi without excessive nutrient immobilization.

Metric Definition:

The ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass (F:B ratio) in soil as an indicator of ecosystem structure, function, and health.

Benchmark Definition:

The Fungal:Bacterial ratio is a critical indicator of soil function representing the balance of fungal and bacterial biomass in soil for regenerative annual cropping in this biome.

Justification:

Derived from a long-term field trial in the Western Australian wheatbelt and corroborated by conceptual models for grass-based systems, reflecting the best available condition for regenerative annual cropping in this biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology, accessed July 18, 2025
ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology, accessed July 18, 2025 Journal

ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology

View Source

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an ..., accessed July 19, 2025,
(PDF) The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an ..., accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil microbial community composition under Eucalyptus plantations of different age in subtropical China - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025
A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed Central, accessed July 18, 2025
Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed Central, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Contrasting sensitivity of soil bacterial and fungal community composition to one year of water limitation in Scots pine mesocosms | FEMS Microbiology Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 22, 2025
Contrasting sensitivity of soil bacterial and fungal community composition to one year of water limitation in Scots pine mesocosms | FEMS Microbiology Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 22, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 8, 2025

View Source
Preview of Crop sequences in Western Australia: what are they and are they sustainable? Findings of a four-year survey - ResearchGate
Crop sequences in Western Australia: what are they and are they sustainable? Findings of a four-year survey - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture reviewed - Western Australian Government, accessed July 8, 2025

View Source
Preview of Development of soil microbial communities for promoting sustainability in agriculture and a global carbon fix
Development of soil microbial communities for promoting sustainability in agriculture and a global carbon fix
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Development of soil microbial communities for promoting sustainability in agriculture and a global carbon fix

View Source
Preview of Fungal and Bacterial Abundance in Long-Term No-Till and Intensive-Till Soils of the Northern Great Plains | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Fungal and Bacterial Abundance in Long-Term No-Till and Intensive-Till Soils of the Northern Great Plains | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Adaptive multi-paddock grazing increases soil nutrient availability and bacteria to fungi ratio in grassland soils | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 19, 2025,
Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed July 18, 2025
Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO

View Source
Preview of Prospect Pastoral Company case study (Haggerty farm)
Prospect Pastoral Company case study (Haggerty farm)
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Prospect Pastoral Company case study (Haggerty farm)

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NCC: Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of SECTION 5 Wheat - Nutrition and fertiliser - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025
SECTION 5 Wheat - Nutrition and fertiliser - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). (2016). GrowNote Wheat South 05 Nutrition.

View Source
Preview of Severe Prolonged Drought Favours Stress-Tolerant Microbes in Australian Drylands - PMC, accessed July 8, 2025
Severe Prolonged Drought Favours Stress-Tolerant Microbes in Australian Drylands - PMC, accessed July 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil microbial community structure is unaltered by plant invasion, vegetation clipping, and nitrogen fertilization in experimental semi-arid grasslands - eScholarship.org, accessed July 8, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon ... - Frontiers, accessed July 18, 2025
Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon ... - Frontiers, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The biogeography of relative abundance of soil fungi versus bacteria in surface topsoil, accessed August 1, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Health and Nutrient Density: Beyond Organic vs. Conventional Farming - Frontiers
Soil Health and Nutrient Density: Beyond Organic vs. Conventional Farming - Frontiers
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Bacteria and Fungi - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 8, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil microbiome and biodiversity implications – are we ignoring cost-effective proxies of biodiversity measures? | TERN Australia, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Soil microbiome and biodiversity implications – are we ignoring cost-effective proxies of biodiversity measures? | TERN Australia, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil microbiome and biodiversity implications – are we ignoring cost-effective proxies of biodiversity measures? | TERN Australia, accessed August 9, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Properties Drive Microbial Community Structure in a Large Scale Transect in South Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
Soil Properties Drive Microbial Community Structure in a Large Scale Transect in South Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Properties Drive Microbial Community Structure in a Large Scale Transect in South Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 8, 2025

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
Contextual Support 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
Preview of What are the optimal fungal to bacterial biomass ratios for different crops? - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
What are the optimal fungal to bacterial biomass ratios for different crops? - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon ... - Frontiers, accessed July 21, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 23 Mar 2026
  • Effective To 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0.4 index. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 2 index. The F:B ratio below 0.4 indicates a highly disturbed, bacterial-dominated system with poor soil structure and high nutrient loss potential. An F:B ratio above 2.0 is detrimental for annual cropping due to nutrient immobilization and promotion of late-successional weeds.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-AGR-SFB family.

— index Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
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0.5 index Moderate
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LowerThreshold Active v1