Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-AKW-LVG-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.2 index
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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 14 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 13 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

Based on the synthesis of evidence presented in Table 1, the F:B ratio of 0.20 is proposed as the benchmark for the best available condition.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial ratio measured by PLFA analysis representing the relative biomass of fungi to bacteria in soil.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the Fungal:Bacterial ratio in soil under a native Acacia chisholmii stand in an Australian arid zone, indicating a high-functioning ecological state associated with soil health.

Justification:

It originates from a real-world, high-functioning ecological state within the target Australian arid biome and is associated with higher soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial activity.

Sources (1)

Preview of Biochemical properties of highly mineralised and infertile soil modified by acacia and spinifex plants in northwest Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Biochemical properties of highly mineralised and infertile soil modified by acacia and spinifex plants in northwest Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate Journal

Biochemical properties of highly mineralised and infertile soil modified by acacia and spinifex plants in northwest Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025
How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

(PDF) Soil community changes during secondary succession to naturalized grasslands, accessed August 9, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil microbial biomass in semi-arid communal sandy rangelands in the western Bophirima District, South Africa - ResearchGate
Soil microbial biomass in semi-arid communal sandy rangelands in the western Bophirima District, South Africa - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil microbial biomass in semi-arid communal sandy rangelands in the western Bophirima District, South Africa - ResearchGate

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Confidence is 'Moderate' due to derivation from an ungrazed natural analogue rather than direct measurement from grazing systems.