Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC)
Benchmark Value
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 3 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
Lower Critical Threshold: An MBC level below 200 mg/kg is considered critically low, representing a >50% loss from the reference state and analogous to severe degradation from land clearing.
Lower critical threshold for Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC) indicating significant ecosystem degradation.
This benchmark defines a critical minimum level of Microbial Biomass Carbon below which soil biological function is severely impaired, indicating significant ecosystem degradation in temperate semi-arid woodlands under production forestry.
Represents a >50% loss of MBC from the reference state, analogous to severe degradation observed when native ecosystems are converted to agriculture.
Sources (1)
Green Carbon in the Great Western Woodlands: A global opportunity for conservation, climate change and sustainable futures
View SourceSupporting Sources (2)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Interpreting Microbial Biomass Carbon | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au
View SourceRefining benchmarks for soil organic carbon in Australia's temperate ...
View Source