Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-ASC-CON-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 6 to 15 %

Optimal Range: 6 to 15

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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

For these protected natural ecosystems, SOC levels ranging from approximately 6% to 15% (0-10 cm) appear to support healthy ecological function, based on data from well-managed conservation sites.

Metric Definition:

Optimal functional range of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) percentage in the 0-10 cm soil layer supporting healthy ecological function

Benchmark Definition:

Optimal range of Soil Organic Carbon supporting healthy ecological function in Australian alpine and subalpine conservation areas.

Justification:

Based on data from well-managed conservation sites showing SOC levels that sustain ecological health.

Sources (1)

Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025,

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025, Journal

Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing

Supporting Sources (27)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With ...

(PDF) Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With ...

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With Particular Reference to Australian Conditions - ResearchGate

Preview of Agus, F., et al. (2011). Estimating organic carbon percentage (OC%) in histosols or peat. Cited in: Hanson, S., et al. (2023). Carbon stock, subsurface characteristics and accommodation settings of sub-tropical peatland Histosols, K'gari, Queensland, Australia. Soil Research.

Agus, F., et al. (2011). Estimating organic carbon percentage (OC%) in histosols or peat. Cited in: Hanson, S., et al. (2023). Carbon stock, subsurface characteristics and accommodation settings of sub-tropical peatland Histosols, K'gari, Queensland, Australia. Soil Research.

Direct Evidence Journal

Agus, F., et al. (2011). Estimating organic carbon percentage (OC%) in histosols or peat. Cited in: Hanson, S., et al. (2023). Carbon stock, subsurface characteristics and accommodation settings of sub-tropical peatland Histosols, K'gari, Queensland, Australia. Soil Research.

Preview of and forest type drive the occurrence of a specialist arboreal folivore - PMC

and forest type drive the occurrence of a specialist arboreal folivore - PMC

Direct Evidence Journal

Macedon Ranges Shire Council (2021). Hanging Rock Environmental Management Plan Background Report.

Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025

Preview of Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA

Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA

Irrelevant

Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA

Preview of Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

CO₂ sink to source: Arid Australia's climate and rainfall driven tipping points

Preview of Costin, A. B. (1954). A Study of the Ecosystems of the Monaro Region of New South Wales. Soil Conservation Service of New South Wales, Sydney.

Costin, A. B. (1954). A Study of the Ecosystems of the Monaro Region of New South Wales. Soil Conservation Service of New South Wales, Sydney.

Direct Evidence Journal

Costin, A. B. (1954). A Study of the Ecosystems of the Monaro Region of New South Wales. Soil Conservation Service of New South Wales, Sydney.

Preview of Cotching, W. E., Lynch, S., and Kidd, D. B. (2009). Dominant soil orders in Tasmania: distribution and selected properties. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 47(%), 537-548.

Cotching, W. E., Lynch, S., and Kidd, D. B. (2009). Dominant soil orders in Tasmania: distribution and selected properties. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 47(%), 537-548.

Contextual Support Journal

Cotching, W. E., Lynch, S., and Kidd, D. B. (2009). Dominant soil orders in Tasmania: distribution and selected properties. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 47(%), 537-548.

Preview of Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.

Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.

Contextual Support Journal

Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.

Preview of Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,

Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A Study on Distribution of Forms of Phosphorus in Calcareous Soils ..., accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia

Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia

Preview of Full article: Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 28, 2025

Full article: Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 28, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

www.nrc.nsw.gov.au, accessed on May 27, 2025

Preview of Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au

Preview of Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia

Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia

Contextual Support

Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,$

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effect of fire and tree‐grass patches on soil nitrogen in Australian tropical savannas

Preview of Marum Point - PeakVisor

Marum Point - PeakVisor

Irrelevant

Marum Point - PeakVisor

Preview of Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria

Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria

Irrelevant

Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria

Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 17, 2025,

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 17, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING

Preview of NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.

NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.

Direct Evidence Journal

NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.

Preview of Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world | TERN Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world | TERN Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Fact Sheets Soil Organic Carbon Storage in the Western Avon Basin - WA

Preview of Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the ...

Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the ...

Contextual Support Journal

Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the Kosciuszko Alpine Zone, Australia - BioOne Complete

Preview of Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy

Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy

Irrelevant

Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI

Preview of Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food

Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food

Contextual Support

Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food

Preview of The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia

The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia

Irrelevant

The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia

Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Conservation in Alpine Catchments - The Kosciuszko Huts Association, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Wilson, B. R., Oliver, I., Jenkins, M., & Robertson, S. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 46(2), 241-260.

Wilson, B. R., Oliver, I., Jenkins, M., & Robertson, S. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 46(2), 241-260.

Direct Evidence Journal

Alpine Bog and Fen (Bog Pool) Communities - Action statement, accessed May 10, 2026

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

SOC levels between 6% and 15% support healthy ecological function in Australian alpine protected natural areas. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-CON-SOC family.