Calorespirometry measures the heat and CO₂ rates of soil microbial metabolism.

Simultaneous measurements of heat and CO₂ rates yield the calorespirometric ratio, R_q/R_CO2$R_{\text{q}}/R_{{\text{CO}}_2}$.

R_q/R_CO2$R_{\text{q}}/R_{{\text{CO}}_2}$ values are sensitive to changes in the soil organic matter.

R_q/R_CO2$R_{\text{q}}/R_{{\text{CO}}_2}$ values are affected by the water content of soil samples.

R_q/R_CO2$R_{\text{q}}/R_{{\text{CO}}_2}$ detects different microbial metabolic profiles in soils.