Microbial Respiration

AUS-TSW-AGR-SMR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5.4 mg/kg/day
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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 7 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 6 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

This cumulative value can be converted to a daily rate: 528 mg CO2​-C/kg ÷ 98 days ≈ 5.4 mg CO2​-C/kg/day. This value is proposed as the reference benchmark.

Metric Definition:

Microbial respiration is defined as the carbon dioxide (CO2) released through the decomposition of soil organic matter and plant litter by aerobic microorganisms.

Benchmark Definition:

Microbial respiration quantifies the metabolic activity of the soil's microbial community by measuring CO2 released from decomposition in temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

The benchmark value is derived from a well-documented, long-term Australian study representing best-practice management (no-till, stubble retention). Confidence is 'Moderate' as the source is from a subtropical, not temperate semi-arid, biome and is based on a controlled lab incubation at 25°C.

Sources (1)

Preview of Effect of 50 Years of No-Tillage, Stubble Retention, and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Respiration, Easily Extractable Glomalin, and Nitrogen Mineralization - MDPI
Effect of 50 Years of No-Tillage, Stubble Retention, and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Respiration, Easily Extractable Glomalin, and Nitrogen Mineralization - MDPI Journal

Effect of 50 Years of No-Tillage, Stubble Retention, and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Respiration, Easily Extractable Glomalin, and Nitrogen Mineralization - MDPI

View Source

Supporting Sources (38)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Cropping System Diversification Influences Soil Microbial Diversity in Subtropical Dryland Farming Systems - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
(PDF) Cropping System Diversification Influences Soil Microbial Diversity in Subtropical Dryland Farming Systems - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Cropping System Diversification Influences Soil Microbial Diversity in Subtropical Dryland Farming Systems - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient ... - Arid Ecology Lab
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient ... - Arid Ecology Lab
Contextual Support Journal

Partitioning of total soil respiration into root, rhizosphere and basal-soil CO2 fluxes in contrasting rice production systems - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research

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
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 Cover cropping - NSW Soil Knowledge Network, accessed July 9, 2025
Cover cropping - NSW Soil Knowledge Network, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Microbial activity in soil with onion grown in a no-tillage system with single or intercropped cover crops - SciELO, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Cropping System Diversification Influences Soil Microbial Diversity in Subtropical Dryland Farming Systems - PMC
Cropping System Diversification Influences Soil Microbial Diversity in Subtropical Dryland Farming Systems - PMC
Contextual Support

Cropping System Diversification Influences Soil Microbial Diversity in Subtropical Dryland Farming Systems - PMC

View Source
Preview of Cropping system diversification influences soil microbial diversity in subtropical dryland farming systems - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland
Cropping system diversification influences soil microbial diversity in subtropical dryland farming systems - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland
Contextual Support Journal

Cropping system diversification influences soil microbial diversity in subtropical dryland farming systems - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland

View Source
Preview of Effect of 50 Years of No-Tillage, Stubble Retention, and Nitrogen ..., accessed July 9, 2025
Effect of 50 Years of No-Tillage, Stubble Retention, and Nitrogen ..., accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Effect of 50 Years of No-Tillage, Stubble Retention, and Nitrogen ..., accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Effects of N addition on soil microbial respiration (R h , a) and... - ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025
Effects of N addition on soil microbial respiration (R h , a) and... - ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of N addition on soil microbial respiration (R h , a) and... - ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Final Technical Report - Quantifying the effectiveness of cover crops to increase water infiltration and reduce evaporation in the northern region, accessed July 9, 2025
Final Technical Report - Quantifying the effectiveness of cover crops to increase water infiltration and reduce evaporation in the northern region, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Growing-season soil microbial respiration response to long-term no tillage and spring ridge tillage - Semantic Scholar, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Growing Soil Health - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 9, 2025
Growing Soil Health - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Growing Soil Health - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Growing soil organic carbon in dryland agricultural systems - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 6, 2025,
Growing soil organic carbon in dryland agricultural systems - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Seasonal changes in microbial function and diversity ...

View Source
Preview of How to determine an OPTIMAL soil respiration (or microbial respiration)? - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
How to determine an OPTIMAL soil respiration (or microbial respiration)? - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Health Testing - Agronomic Insights, accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Agricultural Management Practices on Soil Health - NCBI, accessed May 11, 2025
Impacts of Agricultural Management Practices on Soil Health - NCBI, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support

Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 17, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Respiration - Solvita, accessed August 5, 2025,
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Respiration - Solvita, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Respiration - Solvita

View Source
Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Respiration - USDA, accessed July 30, 2025,
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Respiration - USDA, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Twenty years of progress, challenges, and opportunities in measuring and understanding soil respiration, accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Long-term impact of tillage on microbial communities of an Eastern European Chernozem - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 9, 2025
Long-term impact of tillage on microbial communities of an Eastern European Chernozem - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil microbial communities under conventional-till and no-till continuous cotton systems - USDA ARS, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Long-term Tillage and Soil CO2 Fluxes | CropWatch - University of Nebraska 64Lincoln, accessed July 9, 2025
Long-term Tillage and Soil CO2 Fluxes | CropWatch - University of Nebraska 64Lincoln, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Long-Term Tillage and Soil CO2 Fluxes, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed August 12, 2025
Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia | Department of Primary ...

View Source
Preview of Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 9, 2025
Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Metabolic quotient of the soil microflora in relation to plant succession - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025,
Metabolic quotient of the soil microflora in relation to plant succession - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

The metabolic quotient for CO 2 (qCO 2 ) as a specific activity parameter to assess the effects of environmental conditions, such as pH, on the microbial biomass of forest soils. - CABI Digital Library

View Source
Preview of Optimal Soil, Climate, and Management Factors for Maximizing Crop Yield and Soil Nutrients in a Rice 64Oilseed Rotation System with Straw Return - MDPI, accessed July 9, 2025
Optimal Soil, Climate, and Management Factors for Maximizing Crop Yield and Soil Nutrients in a Rice 64Oilseed Rotation System with Straw Return - MDPI, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Optimal Soil, Climate, and Management Factors for Maximizing Crop Yield and Soil Nutrients in a Rice 64Oilseed Rotation System with Straw Return - MDPI, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Procedure for Soil Respiration (CO2 Evolution from Rewetting a Dried Soil) - Soil Fertility, accessed July 9, 2025
Procedure for Soil Respiration (CO2 Evolution from Rewetting a Dried Soil) - Soil Fertility, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil pH and Organic Matter - MSU Extension | Montana State University, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Protect your land - use cover crops - Archive - NSW Government, accessed July 9, 2025
Protect your land - use cover crops - Archive - NSW Government, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Protect your land - use cover crops - Archive - NSW Government, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Regenerative Land Management - HEALTHY SOILS AUSTRALIA

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Respiration rate (mg CO2 6C g soil21 day21) from days 1 to 33 in soil... - ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025
Respiration rate (mg CO2 6C g soil21 day21) from days 1 to 33 in soil... - ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Respiration rate (mg CO2 6C g soil21 day21) from days 1 to 33 in soil... - ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Severe Prolonged Drought Favours Stress-Tolerant Microbes in Australian Drylands - PMC
Severe Prolonged Drought Favours Stress-Tolerant Microbes in Australian Drylands - PMC
Contextual Support Journal

Seasonal Influence of Biodiversity on Soil Respiration in a Temperate Forest - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Spatial distribution of soil microbial activity and soil properties ..., accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil health - Wikipedia, accessed July 9, 2025
Soil health - Wikipedia, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil health - Wikipedia, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Respiration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil Respiration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Respiration - USDA, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Respiration in Relation to Ecosystem Types in an Arid Area, accessed July 19, 2025,
Soil Respiration in Relation to Ecosystem Types in an Arid Area, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Respiration in Different Agricultural and Natural Ecosystems in an Arid Region - PLOS

View Source
Preview of Soil respiration–driven CO2 pulses dominate Australia's flux variability
Soil respiration–driven CO2 pulses dominate Australia's flux variability
Contextual Support Journal

The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Standard operating procedure for soil respiration rate, accessed August 28, 2025,
Standard operating procedure for soil respiration rate, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Respiration | South Dakota Soil Health Coalition

View Source
Preview of Sustainable Land Use Enhances Soil Microbial Respiration Responses to Experimental Heat Stress - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 9, 2025
Sustainable Land Use Enhances Soil Microbial Respiration Responses to Experimental Heat Stress - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Heavy grazing reduces soil bacterial diversity by increasing soil pH ..., accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The short-term cover crops increase soil labile organic carbon in southeastern Australia, accessed July 17, 2025
The short-term cover crops increase soil labile organic carbon in southeastern Australia, accessed July 17, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Assessing the effect of crop residue removal on soil organic carbon storage and microbial activity in a no-till cropping system - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing problem soils, accessed July 9, 2025
Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing problem soils, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing problem soils, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Understanding the impacts of farming practices on the soil microbiome as a sustainable approach to crop production. - CSIRO Research, accessed July 9, 2025
Understanding the impacts of farming practices on the soil microbiome as a sustainable approach to crop production. - CSIRO Research, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Growing-season soil microbial respiration response to long-term no ..., accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of What I learned about soil health in Australia | Soil Benchmark Blog
What I learned about soil health in Australia | Soil Benchmark Blog
Contextual Support Journal

What I learned about soil health in Australia | Soil Benchmark Blog

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 20 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. There is no simple upper detrimental threshold for absolute respiration. Interpretation requires considering the metabolic quotient (qCO2), which indicates microbial carbon use efficiency. High respiration is not detrimental if qCO2 is low, indicating a large, active, and efficient microbial community.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-AGR-SMR family.

25 mg CO2/kg/day Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
Point Retired v1