Soil Nitrogen

AUS-ASC-CON-SON General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 9000 to 1.2E+04 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 9000 to 1.2E+04
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.

Evidence & Context

Kirkpatrick et al. (2014) reported the following mean total N for Dermosol groups: Group 2: 0.9% (9000 mg/kg), Group 4 (common under fen, grassland, and tall alpine herbfield): 1.2% (12,000 mg/kg).

Metric Definition:

Total soil nitrogen concentration in Dermosol (Alpine Humus) soils in the topsoil (0-5 cm).

Benchmark Definition:

Total soil nitrogen concentration in organic-rich mineral soils representing healthy alpine and subalpine grassland and herbfield ecosystems under conservation land use.

Justification:

Values derived from Kirkpatrick et al. (2014) extensive survey within protected areas.

Sources (1)

Preview of Ionic regulation in an alpine peatland in the Bogong High Plains ..., accessed May 28, 2025
Ionic regulation in an alpine peatland in the Bogong High Plains ..., accessed May 28, 2025 Journal

Kirkpatrick et al. (2014)

View Source

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia, accessed on May 31, 2025
(PDF) Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia, accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed on May 28, 2025

View Source
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.

View Source
Preview of BRIGHTON SOIL REPORT - the NRM Data Library Portal
BRIGHTON SOIL REPORT - the NRM Data Library Portal
Contextual Support Journal

BRIGHTON SOIL REPORT - the NRM Data Library Portal

View Source
Preview of Carbon Cycling in Sub-alpine Ecosystems
Carbon Cycling in Sub-alpine Ecosystems
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The composition of organic phosphorus in soils of the Snowy Mountains region of south-eastern Australia - Semantic Scholar

View Source
Preview of Chapter 11: Australasia | Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
Chapter 11: Australasia | Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 11: Australasia | Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

View Source
Preview of Chemical Fertilizer Reduction Combined with Microbial Fertilizer Improved Vegetation and Soil Characteristics in Degraded Alpine Meadows - MDPI
Chemical Fertilizer Reduction Combined with Microbial Fertilizer Improved Vegetation and Soil Characteristics in Degraded Alpine Meadows - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Chemical Fertilizer Reduction Combined with Microbial Fertilizer Improved Vegetation and Soil Characteristics in Degraded Alpine Meadows - MDPI

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Preview of Ecological Health Performance Scorecard: Kosciuszko National ...
Ecological Health Performance Scorecard: Kosciuszko National ...
Contextual Support Journal

Ecological Health Performance Scorecard: Kosciuszko National ...

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Preview of Ecological Health Performance Scorecard: Kosciuszko National Park 202223 - Environment and Heritage
Ecological Health Performance Scorecard: Kosciuszko National Park 202223 - Environment and Heritage
Contextual Support Journal

Ecological Health Performance Scorecard Report - Environment and Heritage

View Source
Preview of Evaluation of Soil Fertility in Alpine Shrub Communities of the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China - MDPI
Evaluation of Soil Fertility in Alpine Shrub Communities of the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia

View Source
Preview of Fire Effects on Soils and Restoration Strategies - National Academic Digital Library of Ethiopia, accessed May 10, 2026
Fire Effects on Soils and Restoration Strategies - National Academic Digital Library of Ethiopia, accessed May 10, 2026
Contextual Support Journal

Grover, S.E., et al. (2023). Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia. Soil Research, 61(6), 560-568. 1

View Source
Preview of Landscape Monitoring for Landscape Research | Landscape ..., accessed July 22, 2025,
Landscape Monitoring for Landscape Research | Landscape ..., accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Litchfield Savanna SuperSite | Fire Regime Impact | TERN | NT

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen partitioning between plant species and soil microbes in alpine heath | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Nitrogen partitioning between plant species and soil microbes in alpine heath | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A comparison of C:N:P:S ratios in Australian and other world soils - CSU Research Output - Charles Sturt University

View Source
Preview of Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water infiltration rate as affected by grazing land management ...

View Source
Preview of Private Forests Tasmania (2021). Management of Natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations.
Private Forests Tasmania (2021). Management of Natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations.
Contextual Support Journal

Private Forests Tasmania (2021). Management of Natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations.

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Preview of Processes explaining exotic plant occurrence in Australian mountain systems
Processes explaining exotic plant occurrence in Australian mountain systems
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Matter and Soil Function – Review of the Literature and Underlying Data - ecaf. org

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Preview of QUAMBY SOIL REPORT - the NRM Data Library Portal
QUAMBY SOIL REPORT - the NRM Data Library Portal
Contextual Support Journal

QUAMBY SOIL REPORT - the NRM Data Library Portal

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Preview of Short-term impacts of trampling on selected soil and vegetation properties of alpine grassland in Qilian Mountain National Park,China | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Short-term impacts of trampling on selected soil and vegetation properties of alpine grassland in Qilian Mountain National Park,China | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Modeling the Impact of Riparian Hollows on River Corridor Nitrogen Exports - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Stable soil organic matter: A comparison of C:N:P:S ratios in Australian and other world soils - CSU Research Output
Stable soil organic matter: A comparison of C:N:P:S ratios in Australian and other world soils - CSU Research Output
Contextual Support Journal

Stable soil organic matter: A comparison of C:N:P:S ratios in Australian and other world soils - CSU Research Output

View Source
Preview of TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,
TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,
theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Vegetation‐soil relations in the lowlands of south‐west Tasmania - ResearchGate
Vegetation‐soil relations in the lowlands of south‐west Tasmania - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Vegetation‐soil relations in the lowlands of south‐west Tasmania - ResearchGate

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Vegetation Grassland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Represents healthy, organic-rich mineral soils supporting native vegetation in protected areas.

Related Benchmarks

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

7800 mg/kg High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
— mg/kg High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Wetland
OptimalRange Active v1
3000 mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Shrubland
MinimumOnly Active v1