Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)
Benchmark Value
Scoring Curve
This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.
Evidence & Context
Research from New South Wales suggests that when soil organic carbon levels fall below 1%, overall soil health may be constrained, and the system may be unable to achieve its rainfall-based yield potential.
Critical lower threshold of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) below which soil health and productivity are compromised
Critical lower threshold for SOC indicating impaired soil function and productivity.
Indicates a direct and tangible link between a minimum SOC level and the primary productive capacity of the agricultural system.
Sources (1)
How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au
View SourceSupporting Sources (4)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Beefing up carbon capture | On-farm emissions case studies - Agriculture Victoria
View SourceDevelopment of a soil carbon benchmark matrix for central west NSW - IUSS
View SourceSoil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments - CSIRO Publishing
View SourceSoil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide - PMC
View Source