Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-ASC-AGR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 14 to 22 %
Optimal Range: 14 to 22
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

This benchmark is a proxy derived from the natural reference condition, representing the mean SOC% (0-5 cm depth) in healthy, well-developed mineral soils (Dermosols) under native vegetation in the Australian Alps.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) percentage in soil at 0-5 cm depth

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the natural reference range of Soil Organic Carbon percentage in healthy mineral soils of the Australian Alps, serving as a proxy for ecological health in agricultural cropping within this biome.

Justification:

No direct data exists for agricultural cropping in this biome; the benchmark is derived from the natural reference condition representing the highest achievable ecological health.

Sources (1)

Preview of Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and t
Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and t Journal

Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils

View Source

Supporting Sources (27)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Addressing the rundown of nitrogen and soil organic carbon - GRDC, accessed July 25, 2025,
Addressing the rundown of nitrogen and soil organic carbon - GRDC, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021

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Preview of Alpine complex | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed August 3, 2025,
Alpine complex | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian Alps Bioregion | ETA Unknown, accessed August 3, 2025

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Preview of Alpine soils in Australia with reference to conditions in Europe and New Zealand, accessed August 28, 2025,
Alpine soils in Australia with reference to conditions in Europe and New Zealand, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Soil acidity and liming. Soils Guides.

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Preview of Australia Production - International Production Assessment Division (IPAD), accessed August 3, 2025,
Australia Production - International Production Assessment Division (IPAD), accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

Australia Production - International Production Assessment Division (IPAD), accessed August 3, 2025

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Preview of Australian Alps - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,
Australian Alps - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Alpine sphagnum bogs and associated fens - EPBC Act policy statement 3.16

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Preview of Australian Alps Bioregion | ETA Unknown, accessed August 3, 2025,
Australian Alps Bioregion | ETA Unknown, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australian Alps Bioregion | ETA Unknown, accessed August 3, 2025,

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Preview of Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 5, 2025,
Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

How Past Rainfall Shapes Australia's Dryland Ecosystems - Western Sydney University

View Source
Preview of critical soil organic carbon range for optimal crop response to mineral fertiliser nitrogen on a ferralsol - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
critical soil organic carbon range for optimal crop response to mineral fertiliser nitrogen on a ferralsol - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

National Soil Strategy

View Source
Preview of CRITICAL SOIL ORGANIC CARBON RANGE FOR OPTIMAL CROP RESPONSE TO MINERAL FERTILISER NITROGEN ON A FERRALSOL By PATRICK MUSINGUZI - Cambridge University Press, accessed August 3, 2025,
CRITICAL SOIL ORGANIC CARBON RANGE FOR OPTIMAL CROP RESPONSE TO MINERAL FERTILISER NITROGEN ON A FERRALSOL By PATRICK MUSINGUZI - Cambridge University Press, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

CRITICAL SOIL ORGANIC CARBON RANGE FOR OPTIMAL CROP RESPONSE TO MINERAL FERTILISER NITROGEN ON A FERRALSOL By PATRICK MUSINGUZI - Cambridge University Press, accessed August 3, 2025,

View Source
Preview of grazing - in THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS, accessed August 3, 2025,
grazing - in THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

What is your soil pH and what is ideal? - Baileys Fertilisers

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Preview of Impacts of management practices on soil organic carbon in degraded alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Impacts of management practices on soil organic carbon in degraded alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

Impacts of management practices on soil organic carbon in degraded alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of Kirkpatrick, J.B., Green, K., Bridle, K.L. and Venn, S.E. (2014) Patterns of Variation in Australian Alpine Soils and Their Relationships to Parent Material, Vegetation Formation, Climate and Topography. CATENA, 121, 186-194. - References - Scientific Research Publishing
Kirkpatrick, J.B., Green, K., Bridle, K.L. and Venn, S.E. (2014) Patterns of Variation in Australian Alpine Soils and Their Relationships to Parent Material, Vegetation Formation, Climate and Topography. CATENA, 121, 186-194. - References - Scientific Research Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management ..., accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of Mechanisms Behind the Soil Organic Carbon Response to Temperature Elevations - MDPI, accessed August 3, 2025,
Mechanisms Behind the Soil Organic Carbon Response to Temperature Elevations - MDPI, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Mechanisms Behind the Soil Organic Carbon Response to Temperature Elevations - MDPI, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,
Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025,
Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water infiltration rate as affected by grazing land management ...

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,
Direct Evidence 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 Seasonal Mineralisation of Organic Matter in Alpine Soils and Responses to Global Warming: An In Vitro Approach - Bohrium, accessed August 3, 2025,
Seasonal Mineralisation of Organic Matter in Alpine Soils and Responses to Global Warming: An In Vitro Approach - Bohrium, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Seasonal Mineralisation of Organic Matter in Alpine Soils and Responses to Global Warming: An In Vitro Approach - Bohrium, accessed August 3, 2025

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Preview of Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025
Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,

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Preview of Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC
Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? (Journal Article) | OSTI.GOV, accessed August 3, 2025,
Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? (Journal Article) | OSTI.GOV, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - JRC Publications Repository, accessed August 3, 2025,
Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - JRC Publications Repository, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - JRC Publications Repository, accessed August 3, 2025

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Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,
Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of The Benefits of Soil Organic Carbon on Agricultural Practices - SoilOptix, accessed August 3, 2025,
The Benefits of Soil Organic Carbon on Agricultural Practices - SoilOptix, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Benefits of Soil Organic Carbon on Agricultural Practices - SoilOptix, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of water catchment - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 17, 2025,
water catchment - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 17, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

soils - of the australian alps - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,
www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Contextual Support

The Australian Alps Bioregion - Environment and Heritage, accessed on May 27, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 2 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Boundary: Generic agricultural thresholds (~2% SOC) are inappropriate and represent catastrophic degradation. Optimal Range: synonymous with the natural reference range of 14–22%. Upper Boundary: No evidence for detrimental upper threshold; higher SOC indicates greater ecosystem health and resilience. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.