Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-AIF-AGR-SFB General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.3 to 0.7 index
Optimal Range: 0.3 to 0.7
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.

Evidence & Context

This benchmark represents the best available condition for the Fungal:Bacterial (F:B) ratio during inter-flood periods in cropping systems under best-practice regenerative management.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial Ratio as a measure of the relative abundance of fungi to bacteria in soil microbial communities.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal fungal to bacterial ratio in soil microbial communities during inter-flood periods in cropping systems under best-practice regenerative management in the Arid Inland Floodplains biome. It indicates a balanced microbial community that supports soil health and carbon sequestration.

Justification:

The value is inferred from ecological principles and data from analogue systems due to the absence of direct empirical data for this specific biome-land use combination.

Sources (1)

Preview of The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem effect traits into a state-and-transition model of land-use change in semi-arid grasslands - Research @ Flinders, accessed August 3, 2025
The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem effect traits into a state-and-transition model of land-use change in semi-arid grasslands - Research @ Flinders, accessed August 3, 2025 Journal

The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem effect traits into a state-and-transition model of land-use change in semi-arid grasslands - Research @ Flinders

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 19, 2025
Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 19, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Season Inter-flood periods
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

A higher F:B ratio indicates a shift from a disturbed, bacterial-dominated system towards a more stable, fungal-associated system with better soil structure and carbon sequestration potential. The range 0.3 to 0.7 represents a realistic and resilient optimum during inter-flood periods in the Arid Inland Floodplains biome.