Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TSR-LVG-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.75 ratio

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

Based on this evidence, an F:B ratio below 0.75 is proposed as a lower critical threshold.

Metric Definition:

The ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass (F:B ratio) is therefore a powerful integrated indicator of soil ecosystem structure, function, and stability.

Benchmark Definition:

The minimum acceptable fungal to bacterial biomass ratio to avoid significant compromise of ecosystem functions.

Justification:

Below this level, the soil food web is unequivocally dominated by bacteria, and key ecosystem functions associated with fungal activity—such as stable soil aggregation, slow nutrient cycling, and the decomposition of complex carbon—are likely to be significantly compromised.

Sources (1)

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, Journal

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

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Comparing the effects of continuous and time-controlled grazing systems on soil characteristics in Southeast Queensland - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

(PDF) Comparing the effects of continuous and time-controlled grazing systems on soil characteristics in Southeast Queensland - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

Phosphorus Distribution in Soils from Australian Dairy and Beef Rearing Pastoral Systems, accessed July 18, 2025

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 Methodology Source Journal

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

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

Preview of Comparing the effects of continuous and time-controlled grazing systems on soil characteristics in Southeast Queensland - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 19, 2025,

Comparing the effects of continuous and time-controlled grazing systems on soil characteristics in Southeast Queensland - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 19, 2025

Preview of Comprehensive analysis of grazing intensity impacts alpine grasslands across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau - PubMed Central, accessed July 19, 2025,

Comprehensive analysis of grazing intensity impacts alpine grasslands across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau - PubMed Central, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Comprehensive analysis of grazing intensity impacts alpine grasslands across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau - PubMed Central, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Delivering continuous improvement of the farming resource - Soils For Life, accessed July 19, 2025,

Delivering continuous improvement of the farming resource - Soils For Life, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

Tropical Grasslands (2000) Volume 34, 223–229 - Change the management and what happens perspective, accessed July 19, 2025

Preview of Final report - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Final report - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

Queensland Government guidelines for grazing lands

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

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

Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The Science behind Regenerative Agriculture

Preview of Responses of communities of soil organisms and plants to soil aging at two contrasting long-term chronosequences | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Responses of communities of soil organisms and plants to soil aging at two contrasting long-term chronosequences | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Temporal and seasonal change in microbial community structure of ...

Preview of Rhizosphere effects on soil nutrient dynamics and microbial activity in an Australian tropical lowland rainforest - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 19, 2025,

Rhizosphere effects on soil nutrient dynamics and microbial activity in an Australian tropical lowland rainforest - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Rhizosphere effects on soil nutrient dynamics and microbial activity in an Australian tropical lowland rainforest - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 19, 2025,

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Comparing the effects of continuous and time-controlled grazing systems on soil characteristics in Southeast Queensland - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of The Cat's Cradle | US Biochar News, accessed July 19, 2025,

The Cat's Cradle | US Biochar News, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Cat's Cradle | US Biochar News, accessed July 19, 2025

Preview of The effect of forest to pasture conversion on soil biological diversity ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

The effect of forest to pasture conversion on soil biological diversity ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

The effect of forest to pasture conversion on soil biological diversity ..., accessed July 19, 2025

Preview of Tropical Grasslands (2000) Volume 34, 223–229 - Change the management and what happens perspective, accessed July 19, 2025,

Tropical Grasslands (2000) Volume 34, 223–229 - Change the management and what happens perspective, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

INNOVATIONS FOR REGENERATIVE LANDSCAPE ... - Soils For Life, accessed July 19, 2025

Preview of Tropical Rainforest Restoration Plantations Are Slow to Restore the ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Tropical Rainforest Restoration Plantations Are Slow to Restore the ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Tropical Rainforest Restoration Plantations Are Slow to Restore the ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Derived from evidence of degraded sites in the MLA study (0.09:1 and 0.13:1) and other research citing ratios in low-quality soils (0.0034 to 0.092). AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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