Soil Potassium

AUS-ASC-LVG-SOK General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: CompositeFramework

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard CompositeFramework Guard CompositeFramework Guard

Evidence & Context

No specific, scientifically validated soil potassium benchmark (mg/kg) that unequivocally represents the "best available condition of nature" under "best-practice sustainable or regenerative livestock grazing" within the "Australian Alpine and Subalpine Complex" can be definitively identified at this time.

Metric Definition:

Soil potassium concentration in mg/kg as measured by Colwell K or Exchangeable K methods.

Benchmark Definition:

Soil potassium benchmark representing the best available ecological condition under sustainable grazing in Australian alpine and subalpine pastures.

Justification:

The lack of direct, specific soil potassium benchmarks explicitly defined for ecologically healthy, sustainably grazed Australian alpine and subalpine pastures within the available literature and the reliance on agronomic ranges with significant caveats.

Sources (2)

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025
Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025 Journal

Investigating Intensive Grazing Systems in Northern Australia

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Accessing disparate soil data | TERN Australia
Accessing disparate soil data | TERN Australia
Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock Grazing Systems

View Source
Preview of Action statement No.266
Action statement No.266
Contextual Support Journal

Action statement No.266

View Source
Preview of Alpine Grazing Taskforce. (2005). Report of the Alpine Grazing Taskforce. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.
Alpine Grazing Taskforce. (2005). Report of the Alpine Grazing Taskforce. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau

View Source
Preview of Alpine National Park - DCCEEW
Alpine National Park - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Government

Alpine National Park - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | EBSCO Research Starters
Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | EBSCO Research Starters
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Kosciuszko National Park water quality monitoring, accessed August 17, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,
Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,
Methodology Source Government

Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io

View Source
Preview of Doyle, R. B. (1993). Quamby Soil Report. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tasmania.
Doyle, R. B. (1993). Quamby Soil Report. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tasmania.
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Doyle, R. B. (1993). Quamby Soil Report. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tasmania.

View Source
Preview of Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau
Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Quality Pty Ltd. (2024). Potassium – Tasmania. Soil Quality Factsheets.

View Source
Preview of Experimental warming and fire alter fluxes of soil nutrients in sub ..., accessed on May 31, 2025
Experimental warming and fire alter fluxes of soil nutrients in sub ..., accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support

Experimental warming and fire alter fluxes of soil nutrients in sub-alpine open heathland - Inter-Research, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Gollop, L. (2023). Producer Case Study: Grid soil mapping for variable rate application of single superphosphate. Agriculture Victoria.
Gollop, L. (2023). Producer Case Study: Grid soil mapping for variable rate application of single superphosphate. Agriculture Victoria.
Direct Evidence Journal

Gollop, L. (2023). Producer Case Study: Grid soil mapping for variable rate application of single superphosphate. Agriculture Victoria.

View Source
Preview of Kirkpatrick, J. B., and M. J. Brown. 1984. The Tasmanian alpine ecosystem.
Kirkpatrick, J. B., and M. J. Brown. 1984. The Tasmanian alpine ecosystem.
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding Ecohydrological and Biogeochemical Processes in ...

View Source
Preview of Long-term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle Grazing in Subalpine Grassland and Heathland on the Bogong High Plains - DCCEEW, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Long-term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle Grazing in Subalpine Grassland and Heathland on the Bogong High Plains - DCCEEW, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Wood, S. W., et al. (2015). The Ausplots Forest Monitoring Network: Tall eucalypt forests. PLOS ONE.

View Source
Preview of Nature and biodiversity | Australian Alps National Parks
Nature and biodiversity | Australian Alps National Parks
Contextual Support Government

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on June 5, 2025

View Source
Preview of Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water infiltration rate as affected by grazing land management ...

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Grazing Australia
Regenerative Grazing Australia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing Australia

View Source
Preview of STATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS
STATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS
Contextual Support Journal

STATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS

View Source
Preview of The ecology of domestic grazing in the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate
The ecology of domestic grazing in the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The ecology of domestic grazing in the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Wahren, C. H., Papst, W. A., & Williams, R. J. (2001). Long-term vegetation change in relation to cattle grazing in sub-alpine grassland and heathland on the Bogong High Plains, Victoria.
Wahren, C. H., Papst, W. A., & Williams, R. J. (2001). Long-term vegetation change in relation to cattle grazing in sub-alpine grassland and heathland on the Bogong High Plains, Victoria.
Contextual Support Journal

Tolsma, A., et al. (2018). Impacts on bogs and drainage lines - Bogong High Plains.

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Agronomic 'ideal' ranges from Agriculture Victoria (e.g., 121-200 mg/kg for Sandy Loam, 161-250 mg/kg for Loam) are noted as potential reference points but are not established ecological benchmarks for alpine systems. Lower critical thresholds likely fall below agronomic 'Low' values, and no upper detrimental threshold for ecological toxicity was identified. The document highlights a significant knowledge gap and the need for further research. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.