Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TSW-FOR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1 %
Thresholds: Lower: 1, Upper: —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: LowerThreshold

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The lower critical threshold for ecosystem function is identified as approximately 1.0% SOC.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration below which ecosystem function is impaired

Benchmark Definition:

Critical SOC concentration below which soil health and ecosystem functions are significantly impaired in temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands under production forestry.

Justification:

Based on broader government technical guidance on Australian soil health and agronomic research, this threshold is highly pertinent to the temperate semi-arid woodlands.

Sources (1)

Preview of How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality ...
How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality ... Government

How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 20 Mar 2026

Notes

SOC below this level compromises nutrient cycling, water retention, and soil structure, threatening long-term ecosystem viability. For sandy soils, values near or below this level indicate very low functional resilience. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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

— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1