Water Nitrate

AUS-TSR-AGR-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.005 mg/L
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

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 UpperThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

The recommended reference value for water nitrate is 0.005 mg/L as Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3 N).

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration in runoff from best-practice agricultural systems in Australia's Tropical and Subtropical Rainforests biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the reference concentration of water nitrate in agricultural runoff that reflects the highest achievable environmental health state in Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

This value is derived from the median Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) concentration reported for the minimally disturbed Daintree Basin, serving as a real-world proxy for a high-health system.

Supporting Sources (35)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation, accessed July 28, 2025
(PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland ..., accessed July 18, 2025
(PDF) Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland ..., accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Reducing dissolved inorganic nitrogen in surface runoff water ..., accessed July 18, 2025
(PDF) Reducing dissolved inorganic nitrogen in surface runoff water ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

(PDF) Reducing dissolved inorganic nitrogen in surface runoff water ..., accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of 5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025
5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Determining safe levels of ammonia and nitrite for shrimp culture - Global Seafood Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025

View Source
Preview of 7 Reasons why Farmers are Making the Shift to Natural Fertilisers, accessed July 18, 2025
7 Reasons why Farmers are Making the Shift to Natural Fertilisers, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

7 Reasons why Farmers are Making the Shift to Natural Fertilisers, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Agricultural Land Management Practice Adoption Methods – Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018, accessed July 18, 2025
Agricultural Land Management Practice Adoption Methods – Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Agricultural Land Management Practice Adoption Methods – Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 18, 2025,
ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 18, 2025,
Regulatory Framework Government

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source
Preview of Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business ..., accessed July 25, 2025,
Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business ..., accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Cane - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, accessed July 18, 2025
Cane - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Cane - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Catchments and corals: terrestrial runoff to the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 19, 2025,
Catchments and corals: terrestrial runoff to the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles

View Source
Preview of Distribution of nitrates and its effect on plant uptake efficiency in Central Queensland farming systems, accessed July 18, 2025
Distribution of nitrates and its effect on plant uptake efficiency in Central Queensland farming systems, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Distribution of nitrates and its effect on plant uptake efficiency in Central Queensland farming systems, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Estimated Nitrate Concentrations in Groundwater Used for Drinking | US EPA, accessed August 8, 2025
Estimated Nitrate Concentrations in Groundwater Used for Drinking | US EPA, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Review of water quality studies in the Australian Alps

View Source
Preview of Flagship Cairns trial provides solution to reduce nitrate run-off onto ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Flagship Cairns trial provides solution to reduce nitrate run-off onto ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Flagship Cairns trial provides solution to reduce nitrate run-off onto ..., accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Food for thought: how regenerative agriculture is changing Australia's food industry, accessed July 18, 2025
Food for thought: how regenerative agriculture is changing Australia's food industry, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Food for thought: how regenerative agriculture is changing Australia's food industry, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support

Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments ..., accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef ..., accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of National look at nitrate contamination of Ground Water, accessed July 18, 2025
National look at nitrate contamination of Ground Water, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Government

National look at nitrate contamination of Ground Water, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nitrate dynamics in groundwater under sugarcane in a wet-tropics catchment - PMC, accessed July 18, 2025
Nitrate dynamics in groundwater under sugarcane in a wet-tropics catchment - PMC, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate dynamics in groundwater under sugarcane in a wet-tropics catchment - PMC, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nitrate import–export dynamics in groundwater interacting with surface-water in a wet-tropical environment - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 18, 2025
Nitrate import–export dynamics in groundwater interacting with surface-water in a wet-tropical environment - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate import–export dynamics in groundwater interacting with surface-water in a wet-tropical environment - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support

Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000

View Source
Preview of Nitrate loads in sub-tropical headwater streams driven by intensive horticulture - PubMed, accessed July 18, 2025
Nitrate loads in sub-tropical headwater streams driven by intensive horticulture - PubMed, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate loads in sub-tropical headwater streams driven by intensive horticulture - PubMed, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles, accessed July 19, 2025,
Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia

View Source
Preview of Rainforest - WetlandInfo - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, accessed July 18, 2025,
Rainforest - WetlandInfo - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Rainforest - WetlandInfo - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture – Farming The Way Nature Intended | Brookfarm, accessed July 18, 2025
Regenerative Agriculture – Farming The Way Nature Intended | Brookfarm, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture – Farming The Way Nature Intended | Brookfarm, accessed July 18, 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 Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 19, 2025,
Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices

View Source
Preview of Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality, accessed August 3, 2025,
Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Frequently asked questions: Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan and 2017 Scientific Consensus Statement, accessed August 1, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 28, 2025
Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

(PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation

View Source
Preview of Supporting water quality monitoring for sugar cane farming - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 18, 2025
Supporting water quality monitoring for sugar cane farming - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Supporting water quality monitoring for sugar cane farming - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Understanding the economics of improved management practices and systems on sugarcane farms - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 18, 2025
Understanding the economics of improved management practices and systems on sugarcane farms - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Factors associated with the suppressiveness of sugarcane soils to plant-parasitic nematodes, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Updating nitrate toxicity effects on freshwater aquatic ... - Envirolink
Updating nitrate toxicity effects on freshwater aquatic ... - Envirolink
Direct Evidence Journal

Updating nitrate toxicity effects on freshwater aquatic ... - Envirolink

View Source
Preview of Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,
Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,
Regulatory Framework Journal

Reference-site data - Water Quality Australia

View Source
Preview of Water quality for primary industries, accessed July 30, 2025,
Water quality for primary industries, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Low turbidity in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) reduces feeding behavior and increases stress-related physiological parameters in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) during grow-out

View Source
Preview of wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment results, accessed July 18, 2025,
wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment results, accessed July 18, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Wet Tropics Waterways Report Card 2022-23 Results

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

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

Notes

No lower critical threshold exists. The natural baseline of ~0.005 mg/L is the ideal state. The optimal range starts at this baseline upwards with no ecological benefit to higher concentrations and increasing ecological risk. Lower concentrations indicate better ecosystem health and on-farm nutrient use efficiency. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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

1 mg/L Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production ยท Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1