Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TMS-LVG-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0 to 1500 kPa
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 2000
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.

Evidence & Context

Values in the range of <1500 kPa in the top 0-15 cm or 0-30 cm layer, when measured at or near field capacity, are often indicative of good soil physical condition with minimal impedance to root growth and water movement in many agricultural and pastoral systems.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance (cone index) quantifies the force per unit area required for a standardized cone-tipped rod to penetrate the soil at a constant rate, indicating soil compaction affecting root growth and water infiltration.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of soil compaction measured by penetrometer resistance in the top 0-30 cm soil layer under sustainable grazing in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas, indicating minimal impedance to root growth and water infiltration.

Justification:

The benchmark is based on established soil science principles indicating root growth is generally unrestricted below 1500 kPa and significantly impeded above 2000-3000 kPa. Best-practice grazing aims to minimize compaction.

Sources (3)

Preview of Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed on June 7, 2025, Journal

www.utas.edu.au

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, 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 Soil Penetration Resistance as a Soil Health Indicator - SDSU Extension - South Dakota State University, accessed August 4, 2025,
Soil Penetration Resistance as a Soil Health Indicator - SDSU Extension - South Dakota State University, accessed August 4, 2025, GreyLiterature

Soil compaction and strength; measurement methods and influences on perennial grass growth.

View Source

Supporting Sources (9)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of B.ERM.0108 - Wambiana: Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and land condition | Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 10, 2025,
B.ERM.0108 - Wambiana: Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and land condition | Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Wambiana : Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and ...

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025
Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 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 May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Evaluation of soil compaction in an irrigated short-duration grazing system - ResearchGate
Evaluation of soil compaction in an irrigated short-duration grazing system - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Assessment of topsoil properties in integrated crop–livestock and continuous cropping systems under zero tillage - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network
Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network
Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network
Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network
Contextual Support Journal

Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network

View Source
Preview of Grazing land management | MLA
Grazing land management | MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? - Great Barrier Reef Foundation

View Source
Preview of Impact of Deferred Versus Continuous Sheep Grazing on Soil Compaction in the Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem - MDPI
Impact of Deferred Versus Continuous Sheep Grazing on Soil Compaction in the Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Impact of Deferred Versus Continuous Sheep Grazing on Soil Compaction in the Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Litchfield Savanna SuperSite | Fire Regime Impact - TERN Australia, accessed July 24, 2025,
Litchfield Savanna SuperSite | Fire Regime Impact - TERN Australia, accessed July 24, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soils of the Northern Territory factsheet, accessed May 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Prediction of the penetrometer resistance of soils with models of few parameters | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Prediction of the penetrometer resistance of soils with models of few parameters | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock Grazing Systems

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

The benchmark represents a target for high environmental health in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under best-practice livestock grazing. There is no evidence that very low penetrometer resistance is detrimental; lower values approaching natural uncompacted state are beneficial.