Soil Potassium

AUS-TMI-FOR-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

250 mg/kg

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: UpperThreshold

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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Levels of available potassium above 250 mg/kg are considered "High" even for more retentive clay loam soils.

Metric Definition:

Available potassium level in soil above which the system is considered artificially enriched and at risk of nutrient imbalances

Benchmark Definition:

Upper boundary indicating artificial enrichment and potential nutrient imbalance risk.

Justification:

Based on general soil health guidelines indicating high potassium levels that do not represent a natural or sustainable forest condition.

Sources (1)

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Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025 Government

Agriculture Victoria. (2025). Understanding soil tests for pastures. Farm Management.

Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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Australian climate zones - | YourHome, accessed July 13, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Australian climate zones - | YourHome, accessed July 13, 2025

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Christmas and Cocos Islands tropical forests - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Christmas Island National Park - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia

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Climate & Seasons | Australian Wildlife Journeys, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests

Preview of Cocos (Keeling) Islands - 2022 World Factbook Archive - CIA, accessed July 30, 2025,

Cocos (Keeling) Islands - 2022 World Factbook Archive - CIA, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant Government

Cocos (Keeling) Islands - 2022 World Factbook Archive - CIA, accessed July 30, 2025

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Conservation | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Islands Of The Great Barrier Reef - Tropical North Queensland

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Deforestation - Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Deforestation - Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society, accessed July 30, 2025

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Establishment of critical nutrient levels in soil and plant for eucalyptus - Semantic Scholar, accessed July 30, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Establishment of critical nutrient levels in soil and plant for eucalyptus

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Fact sheets: Norfolk Island plant communities - Invasive Species Council, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fact sheets: Norfolk Island plant communities - Invasive Species Council, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Flora of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025, )_Islands

Flora of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025, )_Islands

Contextual Support

Flora of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025, )_Islands

Preview of History & culture | Pulu Keeling National Park | Parks Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

History & culture | Pulu Keeling National Park | Parks Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

History & culture | Pulu Keeling National Park | Parks Australia, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of How does the nutrient cycle work in a tropical rainforest? - Quora, accessed July 30, 2025,

How does the nutrient cycle work in a tropical rainforest? - Quora, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How does the nutrient cycle work in a tropical rainforest? - Quora, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Incredible Great Barrier Reef Islands For Your Holiday - Visitor's Guide - Queensland, accessed July 30, 2025,

Incredible Great Barrier Reef Islands For Your Holiday - Visitor's Guide - Queensland, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Incredible Great Barrier Reef Islands For Your Holiday - Visitor's Guide - Queensland, accessed August 2, 2025

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Inquiry into forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ON THE TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 3. Management and planning for biodi

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List of islands of Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

List of islands of Australia - Wikipedia

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Lord Howe Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island - Wikipedia

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Lord Howe Island subtropical forests | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Norfolk Island Plant Communities - Jerry Coleby-Williams

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Lord Howe Island Subtropical Forests | One Earth, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Mangroves and Wetlands | TSRA State of the Environment, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Preview of Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia

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Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed July 30, 2025

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Patterns in potassium dynamics in forest ecosystems - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Fertility (Part III) - Properties and Management of Soils in the Tropics

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Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Plants | Christmas Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

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Research and development investment delivering for Tiwi community, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support

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The nutrient cycle in the rainforest - Internet Geography, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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These 21 Beautiful Tropical Islands Are Closer Than You Think | Travel Insider - Qantas, accessed August 3, 2025

Contextual Support

These 21 Beautiful Tropical Islands Are Closer Than You Think | Travel Insider - Qantas, accessed August 4, 2025,

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Government

Understanding nutrients in tropical rainforests - British Geological Survey, accessed July 30, 2025

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Government

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

This threshold marks a shift from sustainable management to an artificially maintained agronomic system. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-FOR-SOK family.