Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TMI-LVG-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 3.5 to 6 %
Optimal Range: 3.5 to 6
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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.

Evidence & Context

Synthesising these data points, the optimal range for SOC in pastures on Ferrosol soils within this biome is defined as 3.5% to 6.0%.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) content in soil, representing the carbon constituent of Soil Organic Matter.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal soil organic carbon range for pastures on Ferrosol soils in the Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome, indicating high ecological health and sustainable productivity.

Justification:

Anchored by the optimal value from Norfolk Island assessments and consistent with data from analogous high-rainfall pasture systems.

Sources (2)

Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA Journal

Potential for soil carbon sequestration in Northern Australian grazing lands: A review of the evidence

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, Journal

Spatial distribution of soil microbial activity and soil properties ..., accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment
Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment
Direct Evidence

Soil Organic Carbon May Decline Under Climate Change: A Case Study in Mexican Forests, accessed July 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil organic matter and carbon sequestration in pastures - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil organic matter and carbon sequestration in pastures - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A farmer's guide to increasing Soil Organic Carbon under pastures - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of The Soil Carbon Research Program (SCaRP) - CSIROpedia, accessed July 6, 2025,
The Soil Carbon Research Program (SCaRP) - CSIROpedia, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

No evidence of an upper detrimental threshold; management goal is to maximize SOC within physical limits.