Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TCF-AGR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

7 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

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 10 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 9 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

For the top 0-10 cm, a reference value of about 7% SOC has been observed under long-term pasture on Ferrosols in Tasmania.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) content in the top 0-10 cm of soil under long-term pasture on Ferrosols in the Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the soil organic carbon percentage in the top 10 cm of soil under long-term pasture on Ferrosol soils in the Temperate Coastal Forests & Woodlands biome in Australia.

Justification:

Observed value from studies in Tasmania representing sustainable pasture management.

Sources (1)

Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania

Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania

View Source

Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Assessment of soil carbon stores at the farm scale in Tasmania, Australia - IUSS.org

Direct Evidence Journal

Assessment of soil carbon stores at the farm scale in Tasmania, Australia - IUSS.org

View Source

Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils - ResearchGate

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cdn.environment.sa.gov.au

Direct Evidence Journal

cdn.environment.sa.gov.au

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ON THE FARM - THE GOOD DIRT - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

Direct Evidence

ON THE FARM - THE GOOD DIRT - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

View Source

Preview of Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 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,

Direct Evidence Journal

Pasture health kit - Making More From Sheep, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Coastal Forests & Woodlands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026
Effective To 21 Mar 2026

Notes

Specific to the 0-10 cm soil depth and Ferrosol soil type under pasture. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TCF-AGR-SOC family.