Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TMS-AGR-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

3000 kPa

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

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.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The reference value of <1500 kPa is proposed as a target for high environmental health where soil compaction is not limiting root growth or water infiltration.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance (PR) representing soil structure and compaction under sustainable agricultural crop production

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a target maximum soil compaction level measured by penetrometer resistance, indicating conditions that do not limit root growth or water infiltration in tropical monsoonal savanna agricultural crop production.

Justification:

This value aims to reflect a state of high environmental health where soil physical conditions are conducive to robust plant growth and ecosystem function, derived from analogous tropical systems and Australian agricultural systems undergoing soil improvement.

Sources (2)

research.usq.edu.au

research.usq.edu.au

View Source

www.frontiersin.org, accessed May 16, 2025, Journal

www.frontiersin.org

View Source

Supporting Sources (11)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Changes in surface soil properties of a no-tilled tropical Alfisol ...

Direct Evidence

(PDF) Changes in surface soil properties of a no-tilled tropical Alfisol ...

View Source

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock Grazing Systems

Contextual Support Journal

Final report - MLA

View Source

Agricultural soils mitigate CO2 emissions - cifor-icraf

Contextual Support

Agricultural soils mitigate CO2 emissions - cifor-icraf

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Bibliographies: 'Soil physical properties' - Grafiati

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Bibliographies: 'Soil physical properties' - Grafiati

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Preview of Carbon accounting, land management, science and policy uncertainty in Australian savanna landscapes: introduction and overview - ResearchGate

Carbon accounting, land management, science and policy uncertainty in Australian savanna landscapes: introduction and overview - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Soil carbon density can increase when Australian savanna is converted to pasture, but may not change under intense cropping systems | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage - ResearchGate

View Source

Management of Soil Problems PDF - Scribd

Contextual Support

Management of Soil Problems PDF - Scribd

View Source

SOILWATER CONSULTANTS - Deep Yellow, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

SECURING AUSTRALIA'S SOIL For profitable industries and healthy landscapes - DAFF

View Source

Sustainable land management for the Oxisols of the Latin American savannas - CGSpace

Contextual Support

Sustainable land management for the Oxisols of the Latin American savannas - CGSpace

View Source

Time-dependent changes in distribution patterns of soil bulk density ...

Contextual Support

Time-dependent changes in distribution patterns of soil bulk density ...

View Source

Preview of Use of deep-rooted tropical pastures to build-up an arable layer through improved soil properties of an Oxisol in the Eastern Plains (Llanos Orientales) of Colombia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Use of deep-rooted tropical pastures to build-up an arable layer through improved soil properties of an Oxisol in the Eastern Plains (Llanos Orientales) of Colombia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Use of deep-rooted tropical pastures to build-up an arable layer through improved soil properties of an Oxisol in the Eastern Plains (Llanos Orientales) of Colombia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

The benchmark is a proxy due to the absence of direct, long-term studies in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under established best-practice sustainable agriculture. Local validation and further research are essential. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: BenchmarkValue 1500 → 3000 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Swapping values to reflect that 3000 kPa is the upper degradation threshold (MaximumOnly) and 1500 kPa is the lower threshold (MinimumOnly). This aligns with Notes stating 3000 kPa indicates severe degradation and 1500 kPa is a target for healthy soil.)

Related Benchmarks

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