Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TMS-LVG-SFB General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1 to 2 index
Thresholds: Lower: 0.5, Upper: 3.5
Optimal Range: 1 to 2
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: CompositeFramework

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 MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

No specific, scientifically defensible Fungal:Bacterial (F:B) Ratio benchmark value representing the best available condition for Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under Livestock Grazing & Pasture (AUS-TMS-LVG-SFB) could be identified from the reviewed literature.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial (F:B) Ratio measured by PLFA or DNA methods representing the balance of fungal to bacterial biomass in soil microbial communities.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the hypothesized optimal range and critical thresholds for the fungal to bacterial biomass ratio in soils of tropical monsoonal savannas under livestock grazing. It indicates that higher F:B ratios generally reflect better soil health and sustainable grazing management, with values below 0.5 indicating degradation and values above 3.5 potentially indicating undesirable shifts away from productive pasture.

Justification:

Low confidence in a specific numerical benchmark due to lack of direct peer-reviewed studies in the target biome and land use. General ecological principles and proximal data suggest that higher F:B ratios are associated with better soil health and sustainable grazing management.

Sources (6)

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

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 Journal

Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ON SOIL CARBON ..., accessed on June 7, 2025
EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ON SOIL CARBON ..., accessed on June 7, 2025 Journal

Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 19, 2025,
How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 19, 2025, Journal

Ward Laboratories. (n.d.). Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why?

View Source
Preview of Role of Soil Fungus | Ohioline - The Ohio State University, accessed on June 5, 2025
Role of Soil Fungus | Ohioline - The Ohio State University, accessed on June 5, 2025 GreyLiterature

Role of Soil Fungus | Ohioline - The Ohio State University, accessed on June 7, 2025,

View Source
Preview of www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025, Journal

Regenerative Agriculture Program restoring soil pH case study: Macdonald, Whites Flat/Koppio, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie, accessed May 12, 2025
Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie, accessed May 12, 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 July 29, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

No direct F:B benchmark for Australian tropical monsoonal savannas under best-practice grazing representing high environmental health was found. Proximal data suggests regenerative grazing tends to increase F:B. A lower critical threshold is likely <0.5 (PLFA/DNA), indicating degradation. An optimal range for ecological health and sustainable grazing is hypothesized to be 1.0-2.0 (PLFA/DNA). An upper detrimental threshold for pasture utility (not necessarily soil health) could occur if F:B becomes very high (e.g., >3.5-5.0), potentially leading to undesirable shifts in vegetation from productive grasses to excessive woody cover. Targeted research is critically needed. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.