Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC) — Indicator

About this Indicator

Mass of living microbial carbon in topsoil (0–10 cm), indicating biological activity and soil health.

Benchmarks (43)

AUS-ASC-CON-SMB Moderate

2240 mg/kg

Australia Alpine and Subalpine Complex Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-TDG-AGR-SMB Moderate

557 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands Agricultural Crop Production

AUS-TDG-AGR-SMB Low

600–1000 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands Agricultural Crop Production

AUS-TDG-FOR-SMB Moderate

600 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands Production Forestry

AUS-TDG-LVG-SMB Moderate

300–750 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-TGP-AGR-SMB Moderate

191 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains Agricultural Crop Production

AUS-TGP-CON-SMB Moderate

536 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-TGP-CON-SMB Moderate

160 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-AIF-AGR-SMB Moderate

670–790 mg/kg

Australia Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems Agricultural Crop Production

AUS-AIF-LVG-SMB Moderate

250 mg/kg

Australia Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-AIF-LVG-SMB Moderate

585 mg/kg

Australia Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-AKW-CON-SMB Low

Australia Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-AMR-AGR-SMB Moderate

400 mg/kg

Australia Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands Agricultural Crop Production

AUS-AMR-AGR-SMB Moderate

150–150 mg/kg

Australia Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands Agricultural Crop Production

AUS-AMR-CON-SMB Moderate

340 mg/kg

Australia Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-AMR-FOR-SMB Moderate

630 mg/kg

Australia Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands Production Forestry

AUS-AMR-FOR-SMB Low

200 mg/kg

Australia Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands Production Forestry

AUS-AMR-FOR-SMB Moderate

450–700 mg/kg

Australia Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands Production Forestry

AUS-TMI-AGR-SMB Moderate

400 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands Agricultural Crop Production

AUS-TMI-AGR-SMB Moderate

150 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands Agricultural Crop Production

AUS-TMI-LVG-SMB Moderate

750–1000 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-TMI-LVG-SMB Moderate

300 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-TSR-CON-SMB High

1120–4400 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-TSR-FOR-SMB High

686 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests Production Forestry

AUS-TSR-FOR-SMB High

167 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests Production Forestry

AUS-TSR-FOR-SMB High

650–950 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests Production Forestry

AUS-TSR-LVG-SMB Moderate

1200 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-TSW-CON-SMB Moderate

360 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-TSW-LVG-SMB Moderate

700 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-TSW-LVG-SMB Moderate

250 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-TSW-LVG-SMB Moderate

470–700 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-AIF-CON-SMB Moderate

400–700 mg/kg

Australia Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-AIF-CON-SMB Moderate

200 mg/kg

Australia Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-TMI-CON-SMB Moderate

1000 mg/kg

Australia Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-TMS-CON-SMB Moderate

425 mg/kg

Australia Tropical Monsoonal Savannas Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-TMS-CON-SMB Moderate

300–350 mg/kg

Australia Tropical Monsoonal Savannas Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-TMS-CON-SMB Moderate

400–650 mg/kg

Australia Tropical Monsoonal Savannas Conservation / Protected Natural Areas

AUS-AIF-FOR-SMB Low

220 mg/kg

Australia Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems Production Forestry

AUS-AIF-FOR-SMB Moderate

32 mg/kg

Australia Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems Production Forestry

AUS-TGP-FOR-SMB Moderate

1409 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains Production Forestry

AUS-TGP-FOR-SMB Moderate

700 mg/kg

Australia Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains Production Forestry

AUS-TMS-LVG-SMB Moderate

360–470 mg/kg

Australia Tropical Monsoonal Savannas Livestock Grazing & Pasture

AUS-TMS-LVG-SMB Moderate

150 mg/kg

Australia Tropical Monsoonal Savannas Livestock Grazing & Pasture

Properties

Domain —
Category Soil
Unit mg/kg
Direction Higher ↑
Seasonal No
Vegetation-specific No

Method Reference

Fumigation-extraction method (Vance et al. 1987) or equivalent commercial lab test