Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TSW-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1.5 to 3 %
Optimal Range: 1.5 to 3
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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

An Optimal Range for resilient pasture productivity and overall ecosystem health is proposed as 1.5% to 3.0% SOC for most soil types in this biome.

Metric Definition:

Optimal range of Soil Organic Carbon concentration in the 0-10 cm soil layer for ecosystem health

Benchmark Definition:

Range of SOC concentration supporting resilient ecosystem function and sustainable productivity.

Justification:

Based on surveys and case studies indicating healthy and productive soils within this range in the temperate semi-arid biome.

Sources (1)

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

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture
Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Soils within this range are likely to be in good condition without necessarily being at maximum carbon storage capacity.

Related Benchmarks

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

6 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
1 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1