Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TSW-LVG-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.3 to 0.8 index
Optimal Range: 0.3 to 0.8
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 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Reference Value: 0.3 – 0.8

Metric Definition:

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

Benchmark Definition:

The Fungal:Bacterial Ratio indicates the balance of fungal to bacterial biomass in soil, reflecting soil microbial community health in Australian temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands under best-practice livestock grazing.

Justification:

Derived from synthesis of multiple sources considering nutrient-poor, acidic soils and best-practice grazing management to improve soil health.

Sources (1)

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

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands

View Source

Supporting Sources (26)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil microbial community composition under Eucalyptus plantations of different age in subtropical China - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Analyzing your Fungal to Bacterial Ratio Results - MicroBiometer, accessed July 18, 2025
Analyzing your Fungal to Bacterial Ratio Results - MicroBiometer, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Analyzing your Fungal to Bacterial Ratio Results - microBIOMETER, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios (F:B Ratio) Important for Plant Growth? - Garden Myths, accessed July 28, 2025
Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios (F:B Ratio) Important for Plant Growth? - Garden Myths, accessed July 28, 2025
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 23, 2025

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,
Direct Evidence Journal

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

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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

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
Contextual Support 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 Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed, accessed July 28, 2025,
Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed, accessed July 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France | mSphere, accessed July 28, 2025
Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France | mSphere, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

View Source
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 GreyLiterature

Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 19, 2025,
Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC

View Source
Preview of Grazing intensity influence soil microbial communities and their implications for soil respiration | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,
Grazing intensity influence soil microbial communities and their implications for soil respiration | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing intensity influence soil microbial communities and their implications for soil respiration | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Grazing Regulates Changes in Soil Microbial Communities in Plant-Soil Systems - MDPI
Grazing Regulates Changes in Soil Microbial Communities in Plant-Soil Systems - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Drought decreases incorporation of recent plant photosynthate into soil food webs regardless of their trophic complexity - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of How to improve the Fungi : Bacteria Ratio in soil | Plant & Soil Food | Herbi.nz, accessed July 28, 2025
How to improve the Fungi : Bacteria Ratio in soil | Plant & Soil Food | Herbi.nz, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

View Source
Preview of Ingham, E. R. (Various publications and resources, e.g., USDA NCRS Soil Biology Primer, Soil Foodweb Inc. materials)..4
Ingham, E. R. (Various publications and resources, e.g., USDA NCRS Soil Biology Primer, Soil Foodweb Inc. materials)..4
Contextual Support Journal

Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios (F:B Ratio) Important for Plant Growth? - Garden Myths

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 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 July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025
Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services, accessed July 11, 2025,
RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services, accessed July 11, 2025,
Contextual Support

RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 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 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

View Source
Preview of The fungal-bacterial ratio for soil health - Farmer's Weekly, accessed July 28, 2025
The fungal-bacterial ratio for soil health - Farmer's Weekly, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The fungal-bacterial ratio for soil health - Farmer's Weekly

View Source
Preview of Things you need to know about the Fungal to Bacterial Ratio (F:B) - MicroBiometer, accessed July 28, 2025
Things you need to know about the Fungal to Bacterial Ratio (F:B) - MicroBiometer, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Shrubland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0.2 index. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 1.5 index. Values below 0.2 indicate bacterial dominance and dysfunction; values above 1.5 increase risk of woody encroachment. The optimal range 0.3 to 0.8 represents a healthy, productive pasture system.