Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-ASC-AGR-SSC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

1400 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 14 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 13 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

A penetrometer resistance of < 1400 kPa is proposed as the reference value for the "best available condition."

Metric Definition:

Soil penetrometer resistance measured as the force required to push a standardized cone through the soil profile, expressed in kilopascals (kPa).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum penetrometer resistance indicating the best available soil structure and compaction condition for agricultural crop production in the Australian alpine and subalpine biome, where values below 1400 kPa indicate low compaction risk and minimal root growth restriction.

Justification:

Derived from general agricultural guidelines and principles of optimal soil physical health adapted for alpine environments, due to lack of direct empirical data.

Sources (1)

Identify Soil Compaction to Boost Crop Yields - Innoquest Inc Journal

Identify Soil Compaction to Boost Crop Yields - Innoquest Inc

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Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Soil compaction and controlled traffic considerations in ..., accessed July 30, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Ripping Mallee soils, what are the production benefits? - Agronomy Australia Proceedings

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Diagnosing Soil Compaction Using a Penetrometer - Sherman

Direct Evidence

Diagnosing Soil Compaction Using a Penetrometer - Sherman

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Identifying soil compaction - Department of Agriculture and Food

Direct Evidence

Critical Limits for Soybean and Black Bean Root Growth, Based on ...

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Protect your soil from compaction - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 7, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Soil Compaction in Annual Crop Production: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions - WSU Research Exchange

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Understanding Soil Compaction: How It Affects Crop Yield in Agriculture

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Understanding Soil Compaction: How It Affects Crop Yield in Agriculture

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 3 Jun 2026
Effective To 3 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always worse beyond this point. This value aligns with the 'Green' category indicating low compaction risk and minimal restriction to root growth, critical for fragile alpine ecosystems. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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