Does the C:N:P 1:1:1 Ratio Hold? Examining Log-Transformation Bias in Enzyme Stoichiometry

Abstract

Microbial enzymes play a key role in recycling nutrients in soil, but common methods for analyzing enzyme ratios can introduce bias and reinforce misleading patterns. This article challenges the widely accepted global 1:1:1 C:N:P enzyme investment ratio, arguing it may be a methodological artefact, and recommends established, unit-independent approaches as more reliable alternatives for assessing microbial nutrient use.