Microbial Respiration

AUS-TMS-LVG-SMR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 40 to 60 mg/kg/day
Optimal Range: 40 to 60
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Proposed Benchmark Range: 40 – 60 mg CO2-C/kg/day.

Metric Definition:

Microbial respiration is defined as the carbon dioxide (CO2) released through the metabolic activity of soil microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, during the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) and the utilization of other carbonaceous substrates.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the reference range of high basal microbial respiration during favorable wet season conditions in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under livestock grazing and pasture land use.

Justification:

This range is derived from measurements in unburnt, litter-rich sites and well-wooded savanna sites, following conversion to standard units using an assumed soil depth of 0-10 cm and a soil bulk density of 1.4 g/cm3.

Sources (2)

Preview of Carbon cycle processes in tropical savannas of Far North ..., accessed on June 7, 2025,
Carbon cycle processes in tropical savannas of Far North ..., accessed on June 7, 2025, Journal

Carbon cycle processes in tropical savannas of Far North Queensland, Australia (PhD Thesis). James Cook University

View Source
Preview of Fire interacts with season to influence soil respiration in tropical ..., accessed on June 7, 2025,
Fire interacts with season to influence soil respiration in tropical ..., accessed on June 7, 2025, Journal

Fire interacts with season to influence soil respiration in tropical savannas. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 32(2), 141-150

View Source

Supporting Sources (16)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of ...
(PDF) Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of ...
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

View Source
Preview of Carbon and nitrogen stores in a savanna landscape in the Berrimah Agricultural Research Centre, northern Australia. CSIRO.
Carbon and nitrogen stores in a savanna landscape in the Berrimah Agricultural Research Centre, northern Australia. CSIRO.
Contextual Support Journal

Davies, J. (2017). Carbon and water exchange in Australian tropical savannas. PhD Thesis, James Cook University.

View Source
Preview of Carbon balance of a tropical savanna of northern Australia - CiteSeerX, accessed July 24, 2025,
Carbon balance of a tropical savanna of northern Australia - CiteSeerX, accessed July 24, 2025,
Direct Evidence Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Submission to the ERAC review of the ACCU scheme's 2021 measurement and modelled soil carbon method

View Source
Preview of Carbon Pool Dynamic and Soil Microbial Respiration Affected by Land Use Alteration: A Case Study in Humid Subtropical Area - MDPI
Carbon Pool Dynamic and Soil Microbial Respiration Affected by Land Use Alteration: A Case Study in Humid Subtropical Area - MDPI
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Carbon Pool Dynamic and Soil Microbial Respiration Affected by Land Use Alteration: A Case Study in Humid Subtropical Area - MDPI, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Determinants of soil respiration in a semi-arid savanna ecosystem, Kruger National Park, South Africa, accessed July 30, 2025,
Determinants of soil respiration in a semi-arid savanna ecosystem, Kruger National Park, South Africa, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Touching on Practices for Grazing Management in Tropical and Subtropical Pastures

View Source
Preview of EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ON SOIL CARBON ..., accessed on June 7, 2025
EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ON SOIL CARBON ..., accessed on June 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Fire regime impacts on soil microbes, soil organic carbon and ground cover in an Australian tropical savanna - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 16, 2025,
Fire regime impacts on soil microbes, soil organic carbon and ground cover in an Australian tropical savanna - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Plant community characteristics of the CSIRO Car- digan research site, Queensland, Australia. - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Flooding Length Mediates Fencing and Grazing Effects on Soil Respiration in Meadow Steppe - PMC - PubMed Central
Flooding Length Mediates Fencing and Grazing Effects on Soil Respiration in Meadow Steppe - PMC - PubMed Central
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Flooding Length Mediates Fencing and Grazing Effects on Soil Respiration in Meadow Steppe - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers
How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Microbiological Indicators for Assessing the Effects of Agricultural Practices on Soil Health: A Review - MDPI, accessed on June 5, 2025
Microbiological Indicators for Assessing the Effects of Agricultural Practices on Soil Health: A Review - MDPI, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Methodology Source Journal

Unraveling the Importance of Forest Structure and Composition Driving Soil Microbial and Enzymatic Responses in the Subtropical Forest Soils - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Nutrient Cycling in Semi-Arid Grasslands and Savannas: Its Influence on Pattern, Productivity and Stability - UKnowledge, accessed May 20, 2025
Nutrient Cycling in Semi-Arid Grasslands and Savannas: Its Influence on Pattern, Productivity and Stability - UKnowledge, accessed May 20, 2025
Contextual Support

Determinants of soil respiration in a semi-arid savanna ecosystem ...

View Source
Preview of Ruminant livestock farmers and industry are leading innovation to deliver human nutrition and improved environmental outcomes through sector lifecycle collaboration: a review of case studies - Oxford Academic
Ruminant livestock farmers and industry are leading innovation to deliver human nutrition and improved environmental outcomes through sector lifecycle collaboration: a review of case studies - Oxford Academic
Contextual Support Journal

Ruminant livestock farmers and industry are leading innovation to deliver human nutrition and improved environmental outcomes through sector lifecycle collaboration: a review of case studies - Oxford Academic

View Source
Preview of Soil Respiration - CDN
Soil Respiration - CDN
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Respiration - CDN

View Source
Preview of Soil Respiration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil Respiration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Sustainable Land Use Enhances Soil Microbial Respiration Responses to Experimental Heat Stress - PMC - PubMed Central
Sustainable Land Use Enhances Soil Microbial Respiration Responses to Experimental Heat Stress - PMC - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable Land Use Enhances Soil Microbial Respiration Responses to Experimental Heat Stress - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Season wet season
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 26 May 2026

Notes

The range is considered indicative of the 'best available condition' and high soil biological activity, consistent with the ecological outcomes sought through best-practice grazing management.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-LVG-SMR family.

10 mg/kg/day Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated · wet season
MinimumOnly Active v1