Fungal:Bacterial Ratio
Benchmark Value
Scoring Curve
This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.
Evidence & Context
In our project, fungal to bacterial ratio is expressed as a scale, with numbers less than 5 showing a large imbalance, while numbers greater than 5 and below 12 indicate a good balance.
Colorimetric microBIOMETER assay scale determining active fungal to bacterial biomass carbon ratio in topsoil.
Healthy fungal to bacterial ratio range indicating good biological balance in undisturbed forest or native bushland ecosystems.
This scale represents reference biological standards established by a major Australian soil diagnostics laboratory for undisturbed, structurally complex native forest and bushland soils.
Sources (1)
Unlocking the power of microbes to enhance the soil
View SourceSupporting Sources (7)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Soil microbiology factsheet
View SourceFungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen ...
View SourceFungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management - ResearchGate
View SourceSoil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 21, 2025
View SourceBiogeographic patterns of soil bacterial and fungal biomass C and their ratios across major biomes
View SourcePastures to woodlands: Changes in soil microbial communities and carbon following reforestation | Request PDF - ResearchGate
View SourceRole of Soil Fungus | Ohioline - The Ohio State University, accessed on June 7, 2025,
View Source