Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-ASC-LVG-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.44 ratio
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, 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.

Evidence & Context

"Large-aggregate soils... CK ... F:B 0.44 ± 0.03ab"

Metric Definition:

Ratio of fungal PLFA biomarkers to bacterial PLFA biomarkers.

Benchmark Definition:

Fungal:bacterial ratio in large-aggregate soils indicating high environmental health.

Justification:

Reflects a balanced microbial community in healthy managed subalpine soils.

Sources (1)

Preview of Synergistic effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial communities
Synergistic effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial communities
View Source

Supporting Sources (24)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Global biogeography of fungal and bacterial biomass carbon ..., accessed on June 5, 2025
(PDF) Global biogeography of fungal and bacterial biomass carbon ..., accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Adaptive multi-paddock grazing increases soil nutrient availability and bacteria to fungi ratio in grassland soils | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026

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 Carbon Storage and Fluxes from Sphagnum Peatlands of the Bogong High Plains, Australia, accessed May 10, 2026
Carbon Storage and Fluxes from Sphagnum Peatlands of the Bogong High Plains, Australia, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support Journal

Carbon Storage and Fluxes from Sphagnum Peatlands of the Bogong High Plains, Australia, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Cover Crop Species Composition Alters the Soil Bacterial Community in a Continuous Pepper Cropping System - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,
Cover Crop Species Composition Alters the Soil Bacterial Community in a Continuous Pepper Cropping System - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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 - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Divergent assembly of soil microbial necromass from microbial and organic fertilizers in Chimonobambusa hejiangensis forest - Frontiers, accessed May 10, 2026
Divergent assembly of soil microbial necromass from microbial and organic fertilizers in Chimonobambusa hejiangensis forest - Frontiers, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support Journal

Divergent assembly of soil microbial necromass from microbial and organic fertilizers in Chimonobambusa hejiangensis forest - Frontiers, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Experimental warming and fire alter fluxes of soil nutrients in sub ..., accessed on May 31, 2025
Experimental warming and fire alter fluxes of soil nutrients in sub ..., accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support

Experimental warming and fire alter fluxes of soil nutrients in sub-alpine open heathland - Inter-Research, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Global biogeography of fungal and bacterial biomass carbon in topsoil - eScholarship.org, accessed May 10, 2026
Global biogeography of fungal and bacterial biomass carbon in topsoil - eScholarship.org, accessed May 10, 2026
Direct Evidence Journal

Global biogeography of fungal and bacterial biomass carbon in topsoil - eScholarship.org, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Grazing Intensity Accelerates Surface Soil C and N Cycling in Alpine Pastures as Revealed by Soil Genes and δ 15 N Ratio - MDPI, accessed May 13, 2025,
Grazing Intensity Accelerates Surface Soil C and N Cycling in Alpine Pastures as Revealed by Soil Genes and δ 15 N Ratio - MDPI, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing Intensity Accelerates Surface Soil C and N Cycling in Alpine Pastures as Revealed by Soil Genes and δ 15 N Ratio - MDPI, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026
Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed on June 5, 2025
Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Grazing lowers soil multifunctionality but boosts soil microbial network complexity and stability in a subtropical grassland of China - PubMed Central, accessed on June 5, 2025
Grazing lowers soil multifunctionality but boosts soil microbial network complexity and stability in a subtropical grassland of China - PubMed Central, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

FIRE ALTERS VEGETATION AND SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY IN ALPINE MEADOW - Yiqi Luo, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026

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 Gypsum Improving Soil Properties and Microbial Communities under Seawater Irrigation in Coastal Saline Soil - Scilight Press, accessed May 10, 2026
Gypsum Improving Soil Properties and Microbial Communities under Seawater Irrigation in Coastal Saline Soil - Scilight Press, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support Journal

Gypsum Improving Soil Properties and Microbial Communities under Seawater Irrigation in Coastal Saline Soil - Scilight Press, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Microbial activity in alpine soils under climate change | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,
Microbial activity in alpine soils under climate change | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Seasonal dynamics of soil respiration and nitrification in three subtropical plantations in southern China - iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, accessed May 10, 2026
Seasonal dynamics of soil respiration and nitrification in three subtropical plantations in southern China - iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support Journal

Seasonal dynamics of soil respiration and nitrification in three subtropical plantations in southern China - iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Soil function, properties and plant diversity–biomass patterns differ between grazed and non-grazed steppe ecosystems - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026
Soil function, properties and plant diversity–biomass patterns differ between grazed and non-grazed steppe ecosystems - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support Journal

Soil function, properties and plant diversity–biomass patterns differ between grazed and non-grazed steppe ecosystems - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Soil Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Activity of Pinus elliottii Plantations across Different Stand Ages in a Subtropical Area - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026
Soil Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Activity of Pinus elliottii Plantations across Different Stand Ages in a Subtropical Area - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Activity of Pinus elliottii Plantations across Different Stand Ages in a Subtropical Area - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Stable soil organic matter: A comparison of C:N:P:S ratios in Australian and other world soils - CSU Research Output, accessed May 10, 2026
Stable soil organic matter: A comparison of C:N:P:S ratios in Australian and other world soils - CSU Research Output, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Stable soil organic matter: A comparison of C:N:P:S ratios in Australian and other world soils - CSU Research Output, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of STATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS
STATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS
Contextual Support

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of The Impact of Tree Species on Microbial Community Structure and Soil Function on Forest Plantations in the Central Hardwoods Reg, accessed May 10, 2026
The Impact of Tree Species on Microbial Community Structure and Soil Function on Forest Plantations in the Central Hardwoods Reg, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Impact of Tree Species on Microbial Community Structure and Soil Function on Forest Plantations in the Central Hardwoods Reg, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of The Influence of Soil pH on Microbial Community Structure and Function - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed May 10, 2026
The Influence of Soil pH on Microbial Community Structure and Function - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support Journal

The Influence of Soil pH on Microbial Community Structure and Function - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Unaltered soil microbial community composition, but decreased metabolic activity in a semiarid grassland after two years of passive experimental warming - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026
Unaltered soil microbial community composition, but decreased metabolic activity in a semiarid grassland after two years of passive experimental warming - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support Journal

Unaltered soil microbial community composition, but decreased metabolic activity in a semiarid grassland after two years of passive experimental warming - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Woody encroachment and livestock grazing modify plant, soil fungal and bacterial communities in subalpine grasslands in the Pyrenees - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026
Woody encroachment and livestock grazing modify plant, soil fungal and bacterial communities in subalpine grasslands in the Pyrenees - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Woody encroachment and livestock grazing modify plant, soil fungal and bacterial communities in subalpine grasslands in the Pyrenees - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Indicates a soil capable of efficient nutrient retention and long-term carbon stabilization. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

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