Microbial Respiration

AUS-TSR-FOR-SMR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

60 mg/kg/day

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 60

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 4 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

An upper detrimental threshold is defined ... as a state of imbalance (>50-60 mg CO2-C/kg/day) where respiration exceeds carbon replenishment, indicating a net loss of soil organic carbon characteristic of an unsustainable post-disturbance phase.

Metric Definition:

Soil microbial respiration rate measured as mg CO2-C per kg of soil per day.

Benchmark Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold indicating a state of imbalance and net loss of soil organic carbon.

Justification:

Rates consistently exceeding this threshold indicate a post-disturbance catabolic state detrimental to long-term soil health.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil Microbial Biomass, Basal Respiration and Enzyme Activity of Main Forest Types in the Qinling Mountains | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Microbial Biomass, Basal Respiration and Enzyme Activity of Main Forest Types in the Qinling Mountains | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed August 5, 2025,

Major and persistent shifts in below‐ground ... - yadvinder malhi

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