Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TSW-AGR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1.6 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

The benchmark of 1.6% for finer-textured soils (e.g., Sodosols) is based on initial SOC levels at the MASTER experiment site, reflecting the higher carbon storage potential of clay soils.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) content in the 0-10 cm soil layer

Benchmark Definition:

SOC content in the 0-10 cm soil layer representing best available condition under sustainable cropping in temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands.

Justification:

This value is proposed based on the initial SOC level of the Sodosol at the MASTER trial site and reflects the higher potential of these soils.

Sources (1)

Can soil organic matter be increased in a continuous cropping system in the low to medium rainfall zone? | Birchip Cropping Group

(PDF) Soil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Organic Carbon Storage - WA | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Organic Carbon Storage - WA | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

View Source

Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source

Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ...

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ...

View Source

Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Challenging claimed benefits of soil carbon sequestration for mitigating climate change and increasing crop yields: Heresy or sober realism? - PubMed Central

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 20 Mar 2026

Notes

Based on initial SOC levels at the MASTER experiment site; less direct data on long-term cropping on these soils. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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