Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TMI-AGR-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1 index
Range: 0.75 to 2 index
Thresholds: Lower: 0.5, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 0.75 to 2
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 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 Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on this synthesis of evidence, a reference value of approximately 1.0 is a scientifically defensible and conservative benchmark for the F:B ratio in a "best available condition" agricultural system in the target biome.

Metric Definition:

The Fungal-to-Bacterial (F:B) ratio quantifies the relative biomass of fungi to bacteria in soil microbial communities, indicating the functional state and health of the soil ecosystem.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the critical transition point in the Fungal:Bacterial ratio indicating a shift from a bacterially-dominated to a balanced or fungally-influenced soil microbial community in agricultural systems of the Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome.

Justification:

This benchmark is conceptually anchored in a highly relevant, real-world Australian agricultural system—GCTB sugarcane in coastal tropical Queensland—where a best-practice management shift has been documented to cause a positive change in the F:B ratio. The numerical value of 1.0 is supported by a convergence of evidence from the general soil ecology literature.

Sources (4)

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Supporting Sources (37)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation, accessed July 18, 2025

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(PDF) Sustainability of Coastal Agriculture under Climate Change - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

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(PDF) Which soil microbial indicators should be included in routine laboratory tests to support the transition to sustainable management of arable farming systems? A meta-analysis - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Which soil microbial indicators should be included in routine laboratory tests to support the transition to sustainable management of arable farming systems? A meta-analysis - ResearchGate

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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
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

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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

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Bacterial community structure and denitrifier (nir-gene) abundance in soil water and groundwater beneath agricultural land in tropical North Queensland, Australia - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Bacterial community structure and denitrifier (nir-gene) abundance in soil water and groundwater beneath agricultural land in tropical North Queensland, Australia - ResearchOnline@JCU

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

Beyond Bacteria: The Importance of Fungi, Protozoa and Nematodes in Soil Microbiology, accessed July 21, 2025

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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, accessed June 7, 2025,

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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

Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed June 7, 2025,

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Preview of Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure Influenced by Agricultural Management Practices in a Mediterranean Agro-Ecosystem | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed August 5, 2025,
Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure Influenced by Agricultural Management Practices in a Mediterranean Agro-Ecosystem | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure Influenced by Agricultural Management Practices in a Mediterranean Agro-Ecosystem | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed July 20, 2025,

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Preview of Changing Fertilizer Management Practices in Sugarcane Production: Cane Grower Survey Insights - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025
Changing Fertilizer Management Practices in Sugarcane Production: Cane Grower Survey Insights - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Changing Fertilizer Management Practices in Sugarcane Production: Cane Grower Survey Insights - MDPI

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Preview of Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest Functional Redundancy in Carbon Mineralization | Applied and Environmental Microbiology - ASM Journals, accessed July 28, 2025
Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest Functional Redundancy in Carbon Mineralization | Applied and Environmental Microbiology - ASM Journals, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support

Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest Functional Redundancy in Carbon Mineralization | Applied and Environmental Microbiology - ASM Journals, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Effects of Soil-Applied Fungicides on Sugarcane Root and Shoot Growth, Rhizosphere Microbial Communities, and Nutrient Uptake - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025
Effects of Soil-Applied Fungicides on Sugarcane Root and Shoot Growth, Rhizosphere Microbial Communities, and Nutrient Uptake - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Soil-Applied Fungicides on Sugarcane Root and Shoot Growth, Rhizosphere Microbial Communities, and Nutrient Uptake - MDPI

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Preview of Functional Potential of Soil Microbial Communities and Their Subcommunities Varies with Tree Mycorrhizal Type and Tree Diversity | Microbiology Spectrum, accessed July 28, 2025
Functional Potential of Soil Microbial Communities and Their Subcommunities Varies with Tree Mycorrhizal Type and Tree Diversity | Microbiology Spectrum, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Functional Potential of Soil Microbial Communities and Their Subcommunities Varies with Tree Mycorrhizal Type and Tree Diversity | Microbiology Spectrum

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Preview of Functional Redundancy in Soil Microbial Community Based on Metagenomics Across the Globe - Frontiers, accessed July 28, 2025
Functional Redundancy in Soil Microbial Community Based on Metagenomics Across the Globe - Frontiers, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Functional Redundancy in Soil Microbial Community Based on Metagenomics Across the Globe - Frontiers

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Preview of Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 18, 2025
Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Fungal/bacterial ratios in grassland with contrasting nitrogen management - Wageningen University & Research, accessed July 28, 2025
Fungal/bacterial ratios in grassland with contrasting nitrogen management - Wageningen University & Research, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Fungal/bacterial ratios in grassland with contrasting nitrogen management - Wageningen University & Research, accessed July 30, 2025,

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

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Fungi to bacteria ratio: Historical misinterpretations and potential implications | Request PDF, accessed July 18, 2025
Fungi to bacteria ratio: Historical misinterpretations and potential implications | Request PDF, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - Frontiers, accessed August 1, 2025

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, accessed July 11, 2025,

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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
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Microbial Community in the Composting Process and Its Positive Impact on the Soil Biota in Sustainable Agriculture - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Microbial Community in the Composting Process and Its Positive Impact on the Soil Biota in Sustainable Agriculture - MDPI

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Preview of Regenerative agriculture augments bacterial community structure for a healthier soil and agriculture - Frontiers, accessed July 28, 2025
Regenerative agriculture augments bacterial community structure for a healthier soil and agriculture - Frontiers, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture augments bacterial community structure for a healthier soil and agriculture - Frontiers

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Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
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Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

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Revisiting the hypothesis that fungal-to-bacterial dominance characterizes turnover of soil organic matter and nutrients - Harvard Forest, accessed July 28, 2025
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Revisiting the hypothesis that fungal-to-bacterial dominance characterizes turnover of soil organic matter and nutrients - Harvard Forest

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SOIL BIOLOGICAL HEALTH—WHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT? - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 18, 2025
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SOIL BIOLOGICAL HEALTHWHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT? - Wet Tropics Plan

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Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon ... - Frontiers, accessed July 18, 2025
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The biogeography of relative abundance of soil fungi versus bacteria in surface topsoil, accessed August 1, 2025

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Soil Properties Drive Microbial Community Structure in a Large Scale Transect in South Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
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Soil Properties Drive Microbial Community Structure in a Large Scale Transect in South Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 8, 2025

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Preview of Tagged with ratio of fungi to bacteria - The Prairie Ecologist, accessed July 28, 2025
Tagged with ratio of fungi to bacteria - The Prairie Ecologist, accessed July 28, 2025
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Analyzing your Fungal to Bacterial Ratio Results - microBIOMETER, accessed July 21, 2025

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Preview of The Biogeography of Soil Bacteria in Australia Exhibits Greater Resistance to Climate Change Than Fungi - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025
The Biogeography of Soil Bacteria in Australia Exhibits Greater Resistance to Climate Change Than Fungi - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025
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Responses of Soil Fungal Communities to Lime Application in Wheat Fields in the Pacific Northwest - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,

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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
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Mechanisms and implications of bacterial–fungal competition for soil resources - PMC, accessed July 30, 2025,

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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
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

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

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Western Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 28, 2025
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Western Australian Soil Health Strategy 2021-2031 - SoilsWest, accessed July 12, 2025,
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Western Australian Soil Health Strategy 2021-2031 - SoilsWest, accessed July 12, 2025,

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Preview of What are the optimal fungal to bacterial biomass ratios for different crops? - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
What are the optimal fungal to bacterial biomass ratios for different crops? - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon ... - Frontiers, accessed July 21, 2025

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0.5 index. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The optimal range for sustainable cropping is 0.75 to 2.0.