Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TMI-LVG-SFB General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

0.3 index
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

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

A critically low threshold is proposed at an F:B ratio of <0.3, below which the soil system is considered degraded and dysfunctional for sustainable grazing.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial Ratio indicating degraded soil state

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the lower critical threshold of the Fungal:Bacterial Ratio below which soil function is degraded and unsuitable for sustainable grazing in the Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome.

Justification:

Threshold derived from ecological studies associating low F:B ratios with disturbed, bacterially-dominated soils.

Sources (1)

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Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025
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Analyzing your Fungal to Bacterial Ratio Results - MicroBiometer, accessed July 18, 2025
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Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios (F:B Ratio) Important for Plant Growth? - Garden Myths, accessed July 28, 2025
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Australian Microbiome - Bioplatforms Australia, accessed July 29, 2025

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Beef cattle return to Lord Howe Island - The Farmer Magazine, accessed July 28, 2025
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Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025
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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.

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Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 18, 2025
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Fungal/bacterial ratios in grassland with contrasting nitrogen management - Wageningen University & Research, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc.

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Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 19, 2025,
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fungi to bacteria ratio chart, accessed July 30, 2025,

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The biogeography of relative abundance of soil fungi versus bacteria in surface topsoil, accessed on June 5, 2025
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The Longest Paddock: Cattle on Norfolk Island
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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Below this threshold, soil structure and function are impaired, indicating degradation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-LVG-SFB family.

1 index Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
Point Active v1
— index Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
OptimalRange Active v1
2 index Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1