Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-AMR-AGR-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.1 index
Thresholds: Lower: 0.1, Upper: —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: LowerThreshold

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

F:B ratios below 0.1 are indicative of bacterially-dominated, highly disturbed systems typical of conventional tillage and low-diversity cropping.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial ratio indicating the balance of fungal to bacterial biomass in soil.

Benchmark Definition:

A lower critical threshold below which soil ecological function is compromised, indicating bacterially dominated, disturbed agricultural soils.

Justification:

Baseline F:B ratio for native Australian drylands is ~0.05; disturbed agricultural fields globally begin at 0.1. Values at or below 0.1 signify minimal fungal influence and poor ecological health.

Sources (1)

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Root Structure and Functioning for Efficient Acquisition of Phosphorus: Matching Morphological and Physiological Traits

View Source

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Relationships between field management, soil health, and microbial community composition - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025,
(PDF) Relationships between field management, soil health, and microbial community composition - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
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 Analyzing your Fungal to Bacterial Ratio Results - MicroBiometer, accessed July 18, 2025
Analyzing your Fungal to Bacterial Ratio Results - MicroBiometer, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Analyzing your Fungal to Bacterial Ratio Results - microBIOMETER, accessed June 7, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across ..., accessed July 27, 2025,
Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across ..., accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across ..., accessed July 27, 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 Cover Crop Species Composition Alters the Soil Bacterial Community in a Continuous Pepper Cropping System - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,
Cover Crop Species Composition Alters the Soil Bacterial Community in a Continuous Pepper Cropping System - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Cover Crop Species Composition Alters the Soil Bacterial Community in a Continuous Pepper Cropping System - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Drought stress induced increase of fungi:bacteria ratio in a poplar plantation - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025,
Drought stress induced increase of fungi:bacteria ratio in a poplar plantation - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Drought stress induced increase of fungi:bacteria ratio in a poplar plantation - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Farming systems can affect soil biology, soil pathogens and system ..., accessed July 27, 2025,
Farming systems can affect soil biology, soil pathogens and system ..., accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Farming systems can affect soil biology, soil pathogens and system ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Farming systems can affect soil biology, soil pathogens and system resilience - GRDC
Farming systems can affect soil biology, soil pathogens and system resilience - GRDC
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Beyond Bacteria: The Importance of Fungi, Protozoa and Nematodes in Soil Microbiology, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of How does soil "memory" affect microbial regeneration after disturbance (like fire or tillage)?, accessed July 27, 2025,
How does soil "memory" affect microbial regeneration after disturbance (like fire or tillage)?, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

How does soil "memory" affect microbial regeneration after disturbance (like fire or tillage)?, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Land | State of the Environment Report 2011
Land | State of the Environment Report 2011
Contextual Support Journal

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 28, 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 Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025
Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 9, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture - UK Parliament
Regenerative agriculture - UK Parliament
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture augments bacterial community structure for a healthier soil and agriculture - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,
Regenerative agriculture augments bacterial community structure for a healthier soil and agriculture - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture augments bacterial community structure for a healthier soil and agriculture - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,

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 Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025
Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - Frontiers, accessed July 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Temporal Soil Bacterial Community Responses to Cropping Systems and Crop Identity in Dryland Agroecosystems of the Northern Great Plains - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,
Temporal Soil Bacterial Community Responses to Cropping Systems and Crop Identity in Dryland Agroecosystems of the Northern Great Plains - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support

Agricultural Soil Management Practices Differentially Shape the Bacterial and Fungal Microbiomes of Sorghum bicolor | Applied and Environmental Microbiology - ASM Journals, accessed August 9, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Indicates a state of compromised ecological function, poor carbon use efficiency, and leaky nutrient cycles. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are characteristic of stable ecosystems.

Related Benchmarks

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

— index Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production ยท Pristine Reference
CompositeFramework Active v1