Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-AIF-AGR-SSC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

330 kPa
Range: 0 to 1500 kPa
Optimal Range: 0 to 1500
Direction: Lower 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 17 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 16 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

Four years after the initial intervention, the penetrometer resistance in the top 0.1 m of the soil under the DRG treatment was measured at 0.33 MPa, which is equivalent to 330 kPa.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance measured as the force required to push a standardized cone tip through the soil profile, indicating soil strength or mechanical impedance.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the penetrometer resistance as a measure of soil mechanical impedance affecting root growth in arid inland floodplains under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

This value represents the penetrometer resistance measured at 0.1m depth in a sandy clay loam under a best-practice amelioration treatment (Deep Ripping + Gypsum) that led to significant, lasting improvements in soil physical fertility, water storage, and crop yield.

Sources (1)

Preview of (PDF) Improving soil physical fertility and crop yield on a clay soil in ...
(PDF) Improving soil physical fertility and crop yield on a clay soil in ... GreyLiterature

Dynamics of soil penetration resistance, moisture depletion pattern and crop productivity determined by mechanized cultivation and lifesaving irrigation in zero till blackgram - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always worse up to natural saturation. The optimal range for root growth and water infiltration is <1500 kPa, with values <500 kPa representing an excellent, high-health state.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AIF-AGR-SSC family.