Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TGP-FOR-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 5 to 20 index
Thresholds: Lower: 1, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 5 to 20
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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on this synthesis, a scientifically defensible benchmark for a "best-on-offer" sustainable production forestry system in this biome is a F:B ratio in the range of 5.0:1 to 20.0:1.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial Ratio as the ratio of fungal biomass to bacterial biomass in soil microbial communities.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of fungal to bacterial biomass ratio in soil for sustainable production forestry in the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome, indicating a resilient, fungal-dominated soil microbial community that supports forest productivity and ecosystem services.

Justification:

The reference value is derived from a synthesis of established ecological principles and data from analogous systems, as no direct field measurement for this specific context exists. The confidence is 'Moderate' because the benchmark is based on strong, verifiable scientific logic rather than direct observation.

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

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Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

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

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Preview of About the Fungal-to-Bacterial Biomass Ratio - Mycoscope, accessed August 10, 2025,
About the Fungal-to-Bacterial Biomass Ratio - Mycoscope, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Analyses of soil fungal communities in adjacent natural forest and hoop pine plantation ecosystems of subtropical Australia using molecular approaches based on 18S rRNA genes | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,

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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,

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Preview of Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios (F:B Ratio) Important for Plant Growth? - Garden Myths, accessed July 28, 2025
Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios (F:B Ratio) Important for Plant Growth? - Garden Myths, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 23, 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 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 Journal

Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed Central, accessed June 7, 2025,

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Preview of ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT - Forestry Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,
ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT - Forestry Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands ... - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025

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Preview of Forest and Plantation Soil Microbiomes Differ in Their Capacity to Suppress Feedback Between Geosmithia morbida and Rhizosphere Pathogens of Juglans nigra Seedlings - APS Journals, accessed August 10, 2025,
Forest and Plantation Soil Microbiomes Differ in Their Capacity to Suppress Feedback Between Geosmithia morbida and Rhizosphere Pathogens of Juglans nigra Seedlings - APS Journals, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Forest and Plantation Soil Microbiomes Differ in Their Capacity to Suppress Feedback Between Geosmithia morbida and Rhizosphere Pathogens of Juglans nigra Seedlings - APS Journals, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Forest Practices Plans - Private Forests Tasmania
Forest Practices Plans - Private Forests Tasmania
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's forests – overview - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025

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Preview of Fungal Community, Not Substrate Quality, Drives Soil Microbial Function in Northeastern U.S. Temperate Forests - Frontiers, accessed August 10, 2025,
Fungal Community, Not Substrate Quality, Drives Soil Microbial Function in Northeastern U.S. Temperate Forests - Frontiers, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Fungal Community, Not Substrate Quality, Drives Soil Microbial Function in Northeastern U.S. Temperate Forests - Frontiers, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 18, 2025
Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Fungi to bacteria ratio: Historical misinterpretations and potential implications | Request PDF, accessed July 18, 2025
Fungi to bacteria ratio: Historical misinterpretations and potential implications | Request PDF, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - Frontiers, accessed August 1, 2025

View Source
Preview of Logging has legacy effects on the structure of soil fungal communities several decades after cessation in Western Cascade forest stands - Frontiers, accessed August 10, 2025,
Logging has legacy effects on the structure of soil fungal communities several decades after cessation in Western Cascade forest stands - Frontiers, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Logging has legacy effects on the structure of soil fungal communities several decades after cessation in Western Cascade forest stands - Frontiers, accessed August 10, 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 Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources | The ISME Journal | Oxford Academic, accessed July 18, 2025
Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources | The ISME Journal | Oxford Academic, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

ratio of fungi to bacteria | The Prairie Ecologist, accessed June 7, 2025,

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Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland of the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

The Impact of Tree Species on Microbial Community Structure and Soil Function on Forest Plantations in the Central Hardwoods Reg, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 6 Tussock grasslands, accessed July 16, 2025,
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 6 Tussock grasslands, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding soil pH, accessed August 28, 2025,

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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 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,

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Preview of Srivastava, S. C., & Singh, J. S. (1989). Effect of cultivation on microbial biomass C and N of a dry tropical forest soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 8(4), 343-348.
Srivastava, S. C., & Singh, J. S. (1989). Effect of cultivation on microbial biomass C and N of a dry tropical forest soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 8(4), 343-348.
Contextual Support Journal

Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed July 19, 2025,

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Preview of Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing natural areas | City of Gold Coast, accessed May 19, 2025

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Preview of ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 10, 2025,
ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 4, 2025
ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support

Sustainable forest management and the ecosystem approach - an Australian perspective, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The biogeography of relative abundance of soil fungi versus bacteria in surface topsoil, accessed on June 5, 2025
The biogeography of relative abundance of soil fungi versus bacteria in surface topsoil, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem ..., accessed August 10, 2025,
The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem ..., accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem ..., accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of The PLFA Soil Health Test | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University, accessed on June 5, 2025
The PLFA Soil Health Test | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Untangling the deep-rooted relationship between trees and fungi to reverse dieback, accessed August 10, 2025,
Untangling the deep-rooted relationship between trees and fungi to reverse dieback, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Untangling the deep-rooted relationship between trees and fungi to reverse dieback, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 19, 2025

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 1 index. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The range of 5.0 - 20.0 represents a resilient, unequivocally fungal-dominated soil food web achievable under best-practice sustainable forestry.