Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-AKW-FOR-SOC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0.5 to 1.4 %

Optimal Range: 0.5 to 1.4

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: OptimalRange

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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The optimal range for maintaining both ecological function and productivity is considered to be from this critical threshold up to the native reference level, with best-practice sites aspiring to the upper portion of this range (1.0% to 1.4%).

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) within a highly specific context: production forestry systems operating under best-practice management in Australia's Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the soil organic carbon range that supports both ecological function and sustainable production in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome.

Justification:

The zone begins safely above the critical lower threshold (0.5%) and extends up to the native reference level of ~1.4%.

Sources (1)

Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025 Journal

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

Supporting Sources (15)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Environmental drivers of soil organic carbon in the Australian ..., accessed July 25, 2025,

(PDF) Environmental drivers of soil organic carbon in the Australian ..., accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Environmental drivers of soil organic carbon in the Australian ..., accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of (PDF) Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of ...

(PDF) Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of ...

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

Preview of Al-Beidh, S., & Al-Tawaha, A. R. M. (2023). Basic Properties and Mineralogy of Soils and Their Impact on the Growth of Jarrah Forest in Southwestern Australia. Land, 12(6), 1236.

Al-Beidh, S., & Al-Tawaha, A. R. M. (2023). Basic Properties and Mineralogy of Soils and Their Impact on the Growth of Jarrah Forest in Southwestern Australia. Land, 12(6), 1236.

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Characteristics and Fertility of the Unique Jarrah Forest of Southwestern Australia, with Particular Consideration of Plant Nutrition and Land Rehabilitation - MDPI

Preview of Change in Organic Carbon in Forest Plantation Soils in Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Change in Organic Carbon in Forest Plantation Soils in Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Native Forests Method Proposal - NSW Government, accessed July 25, 2025,

Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Native Forests Method Proposal - NSW Government, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework

Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Native Forests Method Proposal - NSW Government, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks_ A knowledge synthesis - Agritrop

Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks_ A knowledge synthesis - Agritrop

Direct Evidence Journal

Full article: A review of the impacts of sustainable harvesting, non-harvest management and wildfire on net carbon emissions from Australian native forests - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Interesting reading - Healthy Forests Foundation, accessed July 25, 2025,

Interesting reading - Healthy Forests Foundation, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support

ABARES report reaffirms sustainability, sovereign capability and climate credentials of Australian native forestry, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Long-term land use change in Australia from native forest decreases ..., accessed July 25, 2025,

Long-term land use change in Australia from native forest decreases ..., accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support

Long-term land use change in Australia from native forest decreases ..., accessed July 25, 2025

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 25, 2025,$

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of Recent advances in studies of soil organic carbon stability in Karst areas - Frontiers, accessed July 25, 2025,

Recent advances in studies of soil organic carbon stability in Karst areas - Frontiers, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Recent advances in studies of soil organic carbon stability in Karst areas - Frontiers, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 6, 2025,

Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 26, 2025

Preview of Timber Harvesting in Mountainous Regions: A Comprehensive Review - MDPI, accessed July 24, 2025,

Timber Harvesting in Mountainous Regions: A Comprehensive Review - MDPI, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Full article: A review of the impacts of sustainable harvesting, non-harvest management and wildfire on net carbon emissions from Australian native forests - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of Timber Harvesting in Mountainous Regions: A Comprehensive Review - MDPI, accessed July 25, 2025,

Timber Harvesting in Mountainous Regions: A Comprehensive Review - MDPI, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy Options - MDPI, accessed July 25, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 27 May 2026

Notes

Best-practice sites aspire to the upper portion of this range (1.0% to 1.4%). AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-FOR-SOC family.