Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TCF-AGR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 2 to 5 %

Optimal Range: 2 to 5

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.

Evidence & Context

Achievable targets for SOC in the Goulburn Broken Catchment in Victoria have been suggested as 3-5% for perennial pastures and 2-4% for cropping soils.

Metric Definition:

Suggested achievable targets for Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in agricultural soils.

Benchmark Definition:

Achievable target range of 2% to 5% Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in agricultural soils in the Goulburn Broken Catchment, Victoria, supporting sustainable soil management in the Temperate Coastal Forests & Woodlands biome.

Justification:

Targets suggested for sustainable management of SOC in agricultural soils.

Sources (1)

ON THE FARM - THE GOOD DIRT - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

ON THE FARM - THE GOOD DIRT - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

View Source

Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Assessment of soil carbon stores at the farm scale in Tasmania, Australia - IUSS.org

Direct Evidence Journal

Assessment of soil carbon stores at the farm scale in Tasmania, Australia - IUSS.org

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Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils - ResearchGate

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cdn.environment.sa.gov.au

Direct Evidence Journal

cdn.environment.sa.gov.au

View Source

Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania

Direct Evidence

Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania

View Source

Preview of Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025

View Source

Preview of Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,

Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Pasture health kit - Making More From Sheep, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Coastal Forests & Woodlands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Ranges differ for perennial pastures and cropping soils.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TCF-AGR-SOC family.