Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TGP-LVG-SSC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0 to 1500 kPa
Optimal Range: 0 to 1500
Direction: Lower 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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The optimal range for soil penetration resistance is defined as < 1500 kPa.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance measured at field capacity indicating soil strength related to root growth and ecosystem function.

Benchmark Definition:

The optimal range is the soil strength range where compaction poses minimal or no limitation to ecosystem function.

Justification:

This range encompasses the 'Not Compacted' and 'Mild' classes where root growth is not restricted or only mildly restricted.

Sources (1)

Preview of high soil strength - fact sheet - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
high soil strength - fact sheet - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Journal

high soil strength - fact sheet - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)

View Source

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Ch 6. Soil Degradation: Erosion, Compaction, and Contamination - SARE, accessed August 2, 2025,
Ch 6. Soil Degradation: Erosion, Compaction, and Contamination - SARE, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ch 6. Soil Degradation: Erosion, Compaction, and Contamination - SARE

View Source
Preview of Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Contextual Support Journal

Productive native pastures in the high and medium rainfall zones - Australian Wool Innovation

View Source
Preview of Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 5, 2025,
Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Compaction | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed August 4, 2025,
Compaction | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support

3- Build and maintain soil nutrients to improve soil fertility and health in all pasture zones

View Source
Preview of Do grazing intensity and herbivore type affect soil health? Insights from a semi-arid productivity gradient, accessed July 24, 2025
Do grazing intensity and herbivore type affect soil health? Insights from a semi-arid productivity gradient, accessed July 24, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil acidification | .Meat & Livestock Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock
Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Grazing on Water Erosion, Compaction and Infiltration on Grasslands - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Grazing effects on soil physical properties and the consequences for pastures: a review
Grazing effects on soil physical properties and the consequences for pastures: a review
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

The dynamic penetrometer for assessment of soil mechanical resistance - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers
How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,
How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem ... - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of How do I manage the impact of compaction? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed July 24, 2025
How do I manage the impact of compaction? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed July 24, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Grazing management to reduce soil damage - Agriculture Victoria

View Source
Preview of Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,
Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing soils to keep them healthy and productive - MLA, accessed July 28, 2025,
Managing soils to keep them healthy and productive - MLA, accessed July 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Compaction Affects the Growth and Establishment of Street Trees in Urban Australia

View Source
Preview of Mechanical Resistance to Penetration for Improved Diagnosis of ..., accessed July 30, 2025,
Mechanical Resistance to Penetration for Improved Diagnosis of ..., accessed July 30, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Mechanical Resistance to Penetration for Improved Diagnosis of Soil Compaction at Grazing and Forest Sites - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing — a review - CSIRO Publishing
Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing — a review - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing — a review - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com

View Source
Preview of Seedbed Soil Structure Decline | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 28, 2025
Seedbed Soil Structure Decline | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Seedbed Soil Structure Decline | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

View Source
Preview of Soil management for dairy and beef cattle grazing
Soil management for dairy and beef cattle grazing
Contextual Support

Pasture responses to ameliorating sandy soil constraints at Western Flat - Coorong District Council

View Source
Preview of Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing natural areas | City of Gold Coast, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025
Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Understanding soil tests for pastures

View Source
Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower values within this range are better, with <500 kPa representing the ideal unconstrained state. Maintaining soil strength within this range ensures compaction is not limiting pasture performance or ecological health.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-LVG-SSC family.

1500 kPa High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1
— kPa High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
2500 kPa Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1