Soil Phosphorus

AUS-TSW-AGR-SOP General High confidence

Benchmark Value

25 mg/kg

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. The scoring engine uses 7 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 6 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Final Benchmark Recommendation Indicator Name: Soil Phosphorus Reference Value: 25 Unit: mg/kg Source Title: Soil phosphorus-crop response calibration relationships and criteria for oilseeds, grain legumes and summer cereal crops grown in Australia

Metric Definition:

Soil phosphorus concentration measured by the Colwell-P test (0-10 cm depth) representing a sustainable and high environmental health benchmark in managed cropping systems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a scientifically defensible soil phosphorus value within the optimal ecological range for sustainable cropping in Australian temperate semi-arid systems, balancing crop productivity and ecological health.

Justification:

This benchmark balances the agronomic need to prevent phosphorus deficiency and maintain crop productivity with the ecological imperative to avoid excess phosphorus that suppresses arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and increases environmental risk.

Sources (4)

Preview of (PDF) Phosphorus accumulation and other changes in soil ..., accessed August 11, 2025

(PDF) Phosphorus accumulation and other changes in soil ..., accessed August 11, 2025 Journal

Phosphorus accumulation and other changes in soil properties as a consequence of vegetable production, Sydney region, Australia - ResearchGate

Preview of best practice management guide for south-eastern Australia - GRDC, accessed July 7, 2025,

best practice management guide for south-eastern Australia - GRDC, accessed July 7, 2025, Journal

An assessment and benchmarking of phosphorus nutrient use efficiency and industry management practice in Southern Australia - MLA, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Desertification in Australia: Definition, Causes and Environmental Impact - Access EP, accessed July 13, 2025,

Desertification in Australia: Definition, Causes and Environmental Impact - Access EP, accessed July 13, 2025, GreyLiterature

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ...

Preview of The effects of agricultural practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - GeoScienceWorld, accessed July 7, 2025,

The effects of agricultural practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - GeoScienceWorld, accessed July 7, 2025, GreyLiterature

High soil phosphorus levels overrule the potential benefits of ..., accessed July 7, 2025,

Supporting Sources (25)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil phosphorus tests II: A comparison of soil test–crop response relationships for different soil tests and wheat - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

(PDF) Soil phosphorus tests II: A comparison of soil test–crop response relationships for different soil tests and wheat - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil phosphorus tests II: A comparison of soil test–crop response relationships for different soil tests and wheat - ResearchGate

Preview of A universal method to assess the potential of phosphorus loss from soil to aquatic ecosystem | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

A universal method to assess the potential of phosphorus loss from soil to aquatic ecosystem | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

A universal method to assess the potential of phosphorus loss from soil to aquatic ecosystem | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of A World of Rivers: Environmental Change on Ten of the World's Great Rivers 9780226904801 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 7, 2025,

A World of Rivers: Environmental Change on Ten of the World's Great Rivers 9780226904801 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A World of Rivers: Environmental Change on Ten of the World's Great Rivers 9780226904801 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Agriculture performance results - Transparency Portal, accessed July 7, 2025,

Agriculture performance results - Transparency Portal, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Agriculture performance results - Transparency Portal, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of An assessment and benchmarking of phosphorus nutrient use efficiency and industry management practice in Southern Australia - MLA, accessed July 7, 2025,

An assessment and benchmarking of phosphorus nutrient use efficiency and industry management practice in Southern Australia - MLA, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

INNOVATIONS FOR REGENERATIVE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT - Soils For Life, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE ASSESSMENT 2001 - Inside Cotton, accessed July 7, 2025,

AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE ASSESSMENT 2001 - Inside Cotton, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE ASSESSMENT 2001 - Inside Cotton, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Building bushfire resilience in horticultural production systems: important insights from Australia - Frontiers, accessed July 7, 2025,

Building bushfire resilience in horticultural production systems: important insights from Australia - Frontiers, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE ASSESSMENT 2001 - Inside Cotton, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Final report - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Final report - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

Queensland Government guidelines for grazing lands

Preview of High soil phosphorus levels overrule the potential benefits of ..., accessed July 7, 2025,

High soil phosphorus levels overrule the potential benefits of ..., accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus controls the level of colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in conventional and biodynamic irrigated dairy pastures - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Living within limits: - Climateworks Centre, accessed July 7, 2025,

Living within limits: - Climateworks Centre, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Minimum width requirements for riparian zones to protect flowing waters and to conserve biodiversity, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Long-term phosphorus (P) trial and evaluation of the DGT soil ..., accessed July 7, 2025,

Long-term phosphorus (P) trial and evaluation of the DGT soil ..., accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Long-term phosphorus (P) trial and evaluation of the DGT soil ..., accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Milgadara Ecological Report - Squarespace, accessed July 7, 2025,

Milgadara Ecological Report - Squarespace, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Milgadara Ecological Report - Squarespace, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Minimum width requirements for riparian zones to protect flowing waters and to conserve biodiversity, accessed July 7, 2025,

Minimum width requirements for riparian zones to protect flowing waters and to conserve biodiversity, accessed July 7, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

The East Gippsland Soil Erosion Management Plan - Victorian Resources Online

Preview of Modelling catchment management impact on in-stream phosphorus loads in northern Victoria | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Modelling catchment management impact on in-stream phosphorus loads in northern Victoria | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support

Living within limits: - Climateworks Centre, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Our land 2018 - Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 7, 2025,

Our land 2018 - Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Our land 2018 - Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Phosphorus controls the level of colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in conventional and biodynamic irrigated dairy pastures - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Phosphorus controls the level of colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in conventional and biodynamic irrigated dairy pastures - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus controls the level of colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in conventional and biodynamic irrigated dairy pastures - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot | Conservation Physiology | Oxford Academic, accessed August 4, 2025

Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot | Conservation Physiology | Oxford Academic, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot | Conservation Physiology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Phosphorus uptake benefit for wheat following legume break crops in semi-arid Australian farming systems - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Phosphorus uptake benefit for wheat following legume break crops in semi-arid Australian farming systems - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support

Phosphorus uptake benefit for wheat following legume break crops in semi-arid Australian farming systems - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agricultural Practices for Sustainable Soil Health and Food Production, accessed July 7, 2025,

Regenerative Agricultural Practices for Sustainable Soil Health and Food Production, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil condition 2024 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Organic Agriculture and Human Health: The Interconnection Between Soil, Food Quality, and Nutrition - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 7, 2025,

Regenerative Organic Agriculture and Human Health: The Interconnection Between Soil, Food Quality, and Nutrition - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Technical Note No.3 - Effects of Residue Management and No-Till on Soil Quality - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Preview of Soil condition 2024 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 7, 2025,

Soil condition 2024 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil pH | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Suppression of VAM fungi and micronutrient uptake by low-level P fertilization in long-term wheat rotations | American Journal of Alternative Agriculture | Cambridge Core, accessed July 7, 2025,

Suppression of VAM fungi and micronutrient uptake by low-level P fertilization in long-term wheat rotations | American Journal of Alternative Agriculture | Cambridge Core, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Suppression of VAM fungi and micronutrient uptake by low-level P fertilization in long-term wheat rotations | American Journal of Alternative Agriculture | Cambridge Core, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of The estimation of the phosphorus fertilizer requirements of wheat in southern New South Wales by soil analysis - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 7, 2025,

The estimation of the phosphorus fertilizer requirements of wheat in southern New South Wales by soil analysis - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support

The estimation of the phosphorus fertilizer requirements of wheat in southern New South Wales by soil analysis - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Tillage system affects phosphorus form and depth distribution in three contrasting Victorian soils - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Tillage system affects phosphorus form and depth distribution in three contrasting Victorian soils - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Tillage system affects phosphorus form and depth distribution in three contrasting Victorian soils - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 18 mg/kg. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 35 mg/kg. The optimal range for ecological health is 20-30 mg/kg. The benchmark balances productivity with ecological integrity, based on the Colwell-P test at 0-10 cm depth.