Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TSW-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

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. 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 MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark of 6.0% SOC in the 0–10 cm layer, derived from a high-functioning pasture system, is presented as an aspirational target.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon concentration in the 0-10 cm soil layer

Benchmark Definition:

SOC concentration in the top 0-10 cm soil layer representing a high environmental health state under best-practice livestock grazing.

Justification:

This value is based on a robust, field-measured study from a high-functioning pasture system in a higher-rainfall temperate zone, serving as an aspirational target for the Australian semi-arid biome.

Sources (1)

Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture Journal

Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 20 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The benchmark is aspirational and likely achievable only in the most favourable soil types and conditions within the biome.

Related Benchmarks

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