Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TGP-CON-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1 index
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

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 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on the literature, an F:B ratio of < 1.0 represents this critical threshold.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial Ratio critical lower threshold indicating functional impairment

Benchmark Definition:

A critical lower threshold for the Fungal:Bacterial ratio below which the soil ecosystem is functionally impaired and shifts to bacterial dominance in Australian Temperate Grassy Woodlands under conservation management.

Justification:

An F:B ratio below 1.0 indicates a shift to a degraded, leaky, bacterially-driven system with increased susceptibility to degradation and weed invasion.

Sources (2)

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

Soil microbial community composition under Eucalyptus plantations of different age in subtropical China - ResearchGate, 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 Journal

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC
Contextual Support Journal

Extensive Management Promotes Plant and Microbial Nitrogen Retention in Temperate Grassland | PLOS One - Research journals

View Source
Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon?, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Bailey VL, Smith JL, Bolton H Jr.. Fungal-to-bacterial ratios in soils investigated for enhanced C sequestration. Soil Bio Biochem 34: 997-1007 | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on June 5, 2025
Bailey VL, Smith JL, Bolton H Jr.. Fungal-to-bacterial ratios in soils investigated for enhanced C sequestration. Soil Bio Biochem 34: 997-1007 | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on June 5, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Bailey VL, Smith JL, Bolton H Jr.. Fungal-to-bacterial ratios in soils investigated for enhanced C sequestration. Soil Bio Biochem 34: 997-1007 | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Different responses of soil fungal and bacterial communities to nitrogen addition in a forest grassland ecotone - Frontiers
Different responses of soil fungal and bacterial communities to nitrogen addition in a forest grassland ecotone - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

Different responses of soil fungal and bacterial communities to nitrogen addition in a forest grassland ecotone - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Drug discovery from TERN soil samples | TERN Australia
Drug discovery from TERN soil samples | TERN Australia
Contextual Support Government

Drug discovery from TERN soil samples | TERN Australia

View Source
Preview of Effect of plant communities on bacterial and fungal communities in a Central European grassland - PMC
Effect of plant communities on bacterial and fungal communities in a Central European grassland - PMC
Contextual Support Journal

Effect of plant communities on bacterial and fungal communities in a Central European grassland - PMC

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
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of How do fire regimes affect ecosystem structure, function and diversity in grasslands and grassy woodlands of southern Australia?, accessed August 10, 2025,
How do fire regimes affect ecosystem structure, function and diversity in grasslands and grassy woodlands of southern Australia?, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest ...

View Source
Preview of How microbial C/N and organic C/N ratio relate ? | ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,
How microbial C/N and organic C/N ratio relate ? | ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How microbial C/N and organic C/N ratio relate ? | ResearchGate

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 Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (2006). Woodland Remnants and Dryland Salinity: Impacts of dryland salinity on woodland remnants in the Southern Tablelands and South-West Slopes of New South Wales.

View Source
Preview of Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,
Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate

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
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

View Source
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

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers

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

The fungal-bacterial ratio for soil health - Farmer's Weekly, accessed July 21, 2025

View Source
Preview of Tagged with ratio of fungi to bacteria - The Prairie Ecologist
Tagged with ratio of fungi to bacteria - The Prairie Ecologist
Contextual Support Journal

Tagged with ratio of fungi to bacteria - The Prairie Ecologist

View Source
Preview of The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands Is Influenced More by Soil Nutrient Enrichment than by Recent Weed Invasion or Livestock Exclusion | Applied and Environmental Microbiology - ASM Journals
The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands Is Influenced More by Soil Nutrient Enrichment than by Recent Weed Invasion or Livestock Exclusion | Applied and Environmental Microbiology - ASM Journals
Contextual Support Journal

Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest Functional Redundancy in Carbon Mineralization - PMC

View Source
Preview of The Biogeography of Soil Bacteria in Australia Exhibits Greater Resistance to Climate Change Than Fungi - PubMed Central
The Biogeography of Soil Bacteria in Australia Exhibits Greater Resistance to Climate Change Than Fungi - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) A curated soil fungal dataset to advance fungal ecology and conservation research in Australia and Antarctica - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of The Biogeography of Soil Bacteria in Australia Exhibits Greater Resistance to Climate Change Than Fungi - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025
The Biogeography of Soil Bacteria in Australia Exhibits Greater Resistance to Climate Change Than Fungi - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Soil Bacteria and Fungi Beta Diversity (3" resolution) - Release 1 - Research Data Australia

View Source
Preview of The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem ...
The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem ...
Direct Evidence Journal

The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem ...

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

This threshold marks the transition to a degraded state with poor soil structure and low resilience.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-CON-SFB family.

2 index Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
Point Active v1
— index Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1