Management › Residue and mulch management → Properties › Biology › Microorganisms/Microbes

Residue retention (no removal) → Microbial biomass Carbon

A clear tendency, not consistent

75 %

of 12 studies with a clear result report a significant increase

+27 %

typical change (8 studies with numbers)

studies · 16 findings

Count each study by

14 studies · 16 findings

What the studies show

9 of 12 studies report a significant increase (75 %, 95 % confidence interval 47–91 %).

By the direction of each study’s results, significant or not: 11 of 11 studies with a direction point up (100 %, 95 % confidence interval 74–100 %; sign test p < 0.001).

↑ 9 increase
↓ 0 decrease
= 3 no effect
? 2 unclear

How large: typically +27 % (middle half +14 % to +73 %), from 8 studies with numbers
Basis: 14 studies, 16 findings; 1 entered by hand, 13 read by the library

Every study counts once, however many findings it reports: one with 40 sampling dates does not outvote ten others. A study with a significant increase and decrease (say at different depths) counts as "both". A first synthesis for orientation, not a substitute for a systematic review.

Where the studies are

goes up
stays the same
goes down
both ways

Through the soil profile

Each layer on its own: a study that reports the topsoil and the subsoil counts in both. Choose a layer to see what goes with it.

goes up
stays the same
goes down
both ways

In the profile from the surface to 20 cm or more, microbial biomass Carbon goes up in 80 % of the studies under residue retention (no removal), stays the same in 20 % and goes down in 0 %.

What makes a difference

The conditions whose levels differ most clearly, each with the outcome that differs most between its levels of at least 10 study layers. Choose a layer in the profile to see them for that layer alone, or a level here to filter by it.

Testing every condition on every study layer…

Along the conditions

Testing every condition on every study layer…