Fungal:Bacterial Ratio
Benchmark Value
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
The concept of an upper detrimental threshold for the F:B ratio in a pasture system is not one of toxicity but of ecological state change relative to the intended land use. Proposed Detrimental Threshold Concept: An F:B ratio >2.0 may be considered indicative of a potential state change that is detrimental to the primary land use goal of livestock grazing. An F:B ratio that becomes excessively high (e.g., > 2.0) in a pasture setting would imply that the microbial community has become structured to process large quantities of woody biomass, indicating a shift away from productive pasture.
Fungal:Bacterial (F:B) Ratio in soil microbial biomass
This upper detrimental threshold indicates an Fungal:Bacterial ratio above which the soil microbial community may shift towards processing woody biomass, signaling a state change away from productive pasture in the Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome.
This threshold is based on ecological interpretation that high F:B ratios in pasture indicate a shift towards woody vegetation, which is undesirable for livestock grazing.
Sources (1)
ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology
View SourceSupporting Sources (39)
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