Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TDG-AGR-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2000 kPa

Thresholds: Lower: 1000, Upper: 2000

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MinimumOnly

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

A lower critical threshold, where ecological function and sustainability are significantly compromised, is identified as PR values consistently > 2000-2500 kPa.

Metric Definition:

Soil penetrometer resistance (PR) threshold above which ecological function and sustainability are significantly compromised.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the minimum soil penetrometer resistance threshold above which ecological function and sustainability are significantly compromised in the Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands biome under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

PR values above 2000-2500 kPa cause significant impairment of vital ecological functions including poor water and nutrient uptake, reduced biomass production, and compromised soil biodiversity.

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

Supporting Sources (9)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ...

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed May 10, 2025,

View Source

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Impacts of tree invasion on floristic composition of subtropical grasslands on the Bunya Mountains, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source

Preview of Agronomic, Soil Quality and Environmental Consequences of Using Compost in Vegetable Production | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2025,

Agronomic, Soil Quality and Environmental Consequences of Using Compost in Vegetable Production | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Long Term Effect of Conservation Agriculture in Maize Rotations on Soil Total Organic Carbon, Physical and Biological Properties | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2025,

View Source

From soil health to agricultural productivity - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed May 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Role of earthworms in regenerating soil structure after compaction in reduced tillage systems | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2025,

View Source

Preview of Influence of tree species and forest land use on soil hydraulic conductivity and implications for surface runoff generation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2025,

Influence of tree species and forest land use on soil hydraulic conductivity and implications for surface runoff generation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Influence of tree species and forest land use on soil hydraulic conductivity and implications for surface runoff generation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2025,

View Source

Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source

Soil compaction - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source

Soil compaction | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture - MDPI, accessed May 10, 2025,

View Source

Soil Structural Quality and Relationships With Root Properties in Single and Integrated Farming Systems - Frontiers

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Structural Quality and Relationships With Root Properties in Single and Integrated Farming Systems - Frontiers, accessed May 10, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

This threshold is based on general agricultural soils and indicates significant compaction problems. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:19 UTC: UpperThreshold → 2000 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Setting UpperThreshold to 2000 to represent the upper degradation limit, consistent with Notes and EvidenceStatement.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:19 UTC: LowerThreshold 2000 → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Moving the threshold from LowerThreshold to UpperThreshold to correctly represent this as an upper degradation limit, consistent with Notes stating values above 2000 kPa cause degradation. This will auto-correct the form from MinimumOnly to MaximumOnly.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:19 UTC: LowerThreshold 2000 → 1000 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: The Notes indicate that values above 2000 kPa cause degradation, so this threshold is an upper limit and should be lower than the MaximumOnly threshold. Swapping values with the MaximumOnly benchmark resolves the contradiction.)

Related Benchmarks

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