Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TGP-LVG-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.15 index

Range: 0.08 to 0.15 index

Thresholds: Lower: 0.041, Upper: —

Optimal Range: 0.08 to 0.15

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.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

This benchmark represents the upper range of values (inter-quartile range 0.059–0.086; full range 0.041–0.157) observed in undisturbed reference temperate woodland sites (specifically PCT3315) in the Central Hunter Valley, NSW, measured via PLFA.

Metric Definition:

The ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass (F:B ratio) in soil, measured via phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, representing the relative biomass of fungi compared to bacteria in the soil microbial community.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass in soil, indicating the balance of microbial community structure and function in temperate grassy woodlands and plains under livestock grazing and pasture.

Justification:

Selected as the best available proxy for the highest achievable ecological condition in a stable, late-successional system within this biome, which regenerative grazing aims to emulate. A direct benchmark from a confirmed best-practice regenerative grazing site is currently unavailable in peer-reviewed literature, hence the Moderate confidence.

Sources (1)

Preview of Establishing Self-sustaining and Recognisable Ecological ... - Umwelt, accessed August 10, 2025,

Establishing Self-sustaining and Recognisable Ecological ... - Umwelt, accessed August 10, 2025, Journal

Determining whether mine rehabilitation can result in recognisable and self-sustaining ecological communities (ACARP Project C26014)

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025

(PDF) Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Introducing BASE: The Biomes of Australian Soil Environments soil microbial diversity database - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of A review of indicators and methods to assess biodiversity - FAO Knowledge Repository

A review of indicators and methods to assess biodiversity - FAO Knowledge Repository

Contextual Support Journal

Seasonal fine fuel and coarse woody debris dynamics in north Australian savannas, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of Adaptive multi-paddock grazing management's influence on soil food web community structure for: increasing pasture forage production, soil organic carbon, and reducing soil respiration rates in southeastern USA ranches, accessed August 9, 2025,

Adaptive multi-paddock grazing management's influence on soil food web community structure for: increasing pasture forage production, soil organic carbon, and reducing soil respiration rates in southeastern USA ranches, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support

Adaptive multi-paddock grazing management's influence on soil food web community structure for: increasing pasture forage production, soil organic carbon, and reducing soil respiration rates in southeastern USA ranches, accessed August 9, 2025,

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

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

Contextual Support Journal

ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology

Preview of Biome of Australia Soil Environments - GBIF, accessed August 9, 2025,

Biome of Australia Soil Environments - GBIF, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Biome of Australia Soil Environments - GBIF, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Consistent responses of soil microbial communities to elevated nutrient inputs in grasslands across the globe | PNAS, accessed August 9, 2025,

Consistent responses of soil microbial communities to elevated nutrient inputs in grasslands across the globe | PNAS, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support

Consistent responses of soil microbial communities to elevated nutrient inputs in grasslands across the globe | PNAS, accessed August 9, 2025,

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,

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,

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

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

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

Preview of K. J. Hutchinson's research works | University of New England and other places - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

K. J. Hutchinson's research works | University of New England and other places - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW ...

Preview of Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest Functional Redundancy in Carbon Mineralization - PMC, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Mapping Australia's soil biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 5, 2025,

Mapping Australia's soil biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Mapping Australia's soil biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed August 9, 2025,

Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil bacterial community composition is altered more by soil nutrient availability than pH following long-term nutrient addition in a temperate steppe - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025,

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,

Preview of Rapid Soil Development in Response to Land Use Change School of Agriculture and Food Sciences - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 9, 2025,

Rapid Soil Development in Response to Land Use Change School of Agriculture and Food Sciences - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Establishing Self-sustaining and Recognisable Ecological ... - Umwelt, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Regenerative Land Management - HEALTHY SOILS AUSTRALIA

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,

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,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: A ratio < 0.05 is considered critically low, indicating a highly disturbed, bacterially-dominated system with compromised functions like nutrient retention and carbon storage. Optimal Range: A ratio of 0.08 – 0.15 is considered optimal for a healthy, resilient grazing system, indicating a significant shift towards a more conservative, fungal-influenced nutrient economy characteristic of a mature ecosystem. Upper Detrimental Threshold: No evidence supports an upper detrimental threshold in this context. Higher values up to the natural saturation point (~0.16) are considered indicative of improving ecosystem health and stability. [Migration] Original wider evidence range: 0.05 – 0.157 (retained OptimalRange: 0.08 – 0.15)