Soil Potassium

AUS-TSR-AGR-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

156 mg/kg
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MaximumOnly

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 4 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The upper detrimental threshold is set at levels exceeding 156 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold of exchangeable soil potassium concentration in mg/kg

Benchmark Definition:

The upper threshold above which soil potassium causes nutrient imbalances and degrades crop quality.

Justification:

Based on evidence from perennial fruit crops showing negative effects of excess potassium on calcium uptake and fruit quality.

Sources (1)

Preview of Nutrition: Potassium (K) - Australian Mango Industry Association, accessed July 16, 2025,
Nutrition: Potassium (K) - Australian Mango Industry Association, accessed July 16, 2025, Journal

Nutrition: Potassium (K) - Australian Mango Industry Association

View Source

Supporting Sources (35)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Potassium Nutrition of Fruit Crops : Comparative Evaluation of Potassic Fertilizers, accessed July 16, 2025,
(PDF) Potassium Nutrition of Fruit Crops : Comparative Evaluation of Potassic Fertilizers, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Potassium Nutrition of Fruit Crops : Comparative Evaluation of Potassic Fertilizers, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

World Heritage places - Gondwana Rainforests of Australia - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of An integrated approach to crop nutrition in macadamias - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
An integrated approach to crop nutrition in macadamias - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Irrelevant

An integrated approach to crop nutrition in macadamias - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Appendix B. Technical summary - - Hort Innovation, accessed July 16, 2025,
Appendix B. Technical summary - - Hort Innovation, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Appendix B. Technical summary - - Hort Innovation, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Banana | K+S Aktiengesellschaft, accessed July 16, 2025,
Banana | K+S Aktiengesellschaft, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Banana | K+S Aktiengesellschaft, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Cation Exchange Capacity - Local Land Services, accessed July 16, 2025,
Cation Exchange Capacity - Local Land Services, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support

Cation Exchange Capacity - Local Land Services, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Citrus nutrition - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 16, 2025,
Citrus nutrition - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Citrus nutrition - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Development of key soil health indicators for the Australian banana ..., accessed July 16, 2025,
Development of key soil health indicators for the Australian banana ..., accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Development of key soil health indicators for the Australian banana ..., accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of ENV509 | Module 3: Australian rainforests - an overview - Learnline, accessed July 22, 2025,
ENV509 | Module 3: Australian rainforests - an overview - Learnline, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

ENV509 | Module 3: Australian rainforests - an overview - Learnline, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of Fertilising avocados | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Fertilising avocados | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Macadamia grower's guide 2022 - nutrition and soil health – part 1: the foundations - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Improved fruit quality and robustness in avocado supply chains (mineral nutrition) - Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, accessed July 16, 2025,
Improved fruit quality and robustness in avocado supply chains (mineral nutrition) - Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Improved fruit quality and robustness in avocado supply chains (mineral nutrition) - Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Improving Avocado Fruit Quality through Tree Nutrition - Present Knowledge - Avocadosource.com, accessed July 16, 2025,
Improving Avocado Fruit Quality through Tree Nutrition - Present Knowledge - Avocadosource.com, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Improving Avocado Fruit Quality through Tree Nutrition - Present Knowledge - Avocadosource.com, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Land management for sugarcane farms | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Land management for sugarcane farms | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia

View Source
Preview of Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia ecological community - listing advice, accessed July 20, 2025,
Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia ecological community - listing advice, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021

View Source
Preview of maca bmp pagemaker bew 18-7-08 - SoilCare Incorporated, accessed July 16, 2025,
maca bmp pagemaker bew 18-7-08 - SoilCare Incorporated, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

maca bmp pagemaker bew 18-7-08 - SoilCare Incorporated, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nutrient disorders of greenhouse Lebanese cucumbers, accessed July 16, 2025,
Nutrient disorders of greenhouse Lebanese cucumbers, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Nutrient disorders of greenhouse Lebanese cucumbers, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,
Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nutritional summary for bananas - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Nutritional summary for bananas - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Irrelevant

Nutritional summary for bananas - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Potassium and Plant Health - International Potash Institute, accessed July 16, 2025,
Potassium and Plant Health - International Potash Institute, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support

Potassium and Plant Health - International Potash Institute, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regeneration Guidelines: Banana - CGIAR Genebanks, accessed July 16, 2025,
Regeneration Guidelines: Banana - CGIAR Genebanks, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regeneration Guidelines: Banana - CGIAR Genebanks, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 16, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Goes Mainstream: Trends and Impacts - Earth.Org, accessed July 16, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture Goes Mainstream: Trends and Impacts - Earth.Org, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture Goes Mainstream: Trends and Impacts - Earth.Org, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
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,

View Source
Preview of Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025,
Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Health for Bananas | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,
Soil Health for Bananas | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Health for Bananas | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,
Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of SOIL-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES - Sugar ..., accessed July 16, 2025,
SOIL-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES - Sugar ..., accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence

SOIL-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES - Sugar ...

View Source
Preview of Sustainable agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Sustainable agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sustainable agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of TROPICAL SOILS | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,
TROPICAL SOILS | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Understanding the units on the soil test report - Cropaia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Understanding the units on the soil test report - Cropaia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support

Understanding the units on the soil test report - Cropaia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Levels above this increase risk of calcium deficiency and reduced crop quality in avocado, citrus, and mango. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-AGR-SOK family.

— mg/kg Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
OptimalRange Active v1
78 mg/kg Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v1