Microbial Respiration

AUS-TDG-AGR-SMR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

140 µg/g/h
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

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

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Low critical thresholds are associated with depleted soil organic carbon (SOC) (e.g., below 2% SOC) and very low MBC (e.g., 140-150 µg C/g soil), compromising essential soil functions.

Metric Definition:

Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC)

Benchmark Definition:

A lower critical threshold of 140 µg/g/h microbial biomass carbon indicates impaired soil function in temperate agricultural soils.

Justification:

Low MBC values are indicative of a starved microbial population and would correspond to critically low respiration rates.

Sources (1)

Preview of Farming systems can affect soil biology, soil pathogens and system ...
Farming systems can affect soil biology, soil pathogens and system ... Journal

Farming systems can affect soil biology, soil pathogens and system resilience - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)

View Source

Supporting Sources (23)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Comparison of temperature effects on soil respiration and bacterial and fungal growth rates | FEMS Microbiology Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 30, 2025,
Comparison of temperature effects on soil respiration and bacterial and fungal growth rates | FEMS Microbiology Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Moisture Affects the Rapid Response of Microbes to Labile Organic C Addition

View Source
Preview of Haney Test Interpretation Guide v1.0, accessed August 9, 2025
Haney Test Interpretation Guide v1.0, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support

Haney Test Interpretation Guide v1.0, accessed August 9, 2025

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,
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

How to determine an OPTIMAL soil respiration (or microbial ..., accessed July 19, 2025

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

Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Respiration - USDA

View Source
Preview of Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Direct Evidence

Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Is there any harmful effect of agrochemicals use on soil microorganisms? - ResearchGate
Is there any harmful effect of agrochemicals use on soil microorganisms? - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Is there any harmful effect of agrochemicals use on soil microorganisms? - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Long-term use of cover crops and no-till shift soil microbial ... - PLOS
Long-term use of cover crops and no-till shift soil microbial ... - PLOS
Contextual Support Journal

Long-term use of cover crops and no-till shift soil microbial ... - PLOS

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 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 Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025
Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 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 Agriculture Program restoring soil pH case study: Macdonald, Whites Flat/Koppio

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

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 July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 5, 2025

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 GreyLiterature

Coexistence of shrubs and grass in a semi-arid landscape: a case study of mulga (Acacia aneura, Mimosaceae) shrublands embedded in fire-prone spinifex (Triodia pungens, Poaceae) hummock grasslands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany

View Source
Preview of Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide - PMC, accessed August 13, 2025,
Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide - PMC, accessed August 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide - PMC, accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil respiration - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil respiration - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support

Soil respiration - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of Soil Respiration in Semiarid Temperate Grasslands under Various Land Management | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed August 12, 2025,
Soil Respiration in Semiarid Temperate Grasslands under Various Land Management | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Respiration in Semiarid Temperate Grasslands under Various Land Management | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed August 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil respiration rate and its sensitivity to temperature in pasture systems of dry-tropics - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil respiration rate and its sensitivity to temperature in pasture systems of dry-tropics - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil respiration rate and its sensitivity to temperature in pasture systems of dry-tropics - Taylor & Francis Online

View Source
Preview of Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Temperate Montane Grasslands | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
Temperate Montane Grasslands | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Temperate Montane Grasslands | NSW Environment, Energy and Science

View Source
Preview of Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration rates enhanced by microbial community response - PubMed, accessed July 30, 2025,
Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration rates enhanced by microbial community response - PubMed, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Respiration in Semiarid Temperate Grasslands under Various Land Management - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Understanding soil microbial functional resistance and resilience to ...
Understanding soil microbial functional resistance and resilience to ...
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Understanding soil microbial functional resistance and resilience to ...

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

COMPARISON OF TWO TILLAGE PRACTICES ON A SEMI-ARID, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

Value represents the lower end of the critical range (140-150 µg C/g).

Related Benchmarks

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

280 µg/g/h Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
Point Active v1
400 µg/g/h Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
Point Active v1