Soil Potassium

AUS-TSW-CON-SOK General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

80 mg/kg
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

For loamy to clay soils, which have a higher cation exchange capacity and require more potassium to satisfy plant demand, a higher threshold of < 80 mg/kg is defined as critically low.

Metric Definition:

Critical soil potassium level below which ecosystem health is compromised for loamy to clay soils

Benchmark Definition:

Critical potassium threshold below which ecosystem health is compromised for loamy to clay soils.

Justification:

Based on agronomic deficiency data indicating significant ecological compromise below this level.

Sources (1)

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Soil nutrient critical limits | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures - MLA, accessed May 13, 2025, Government

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed July 17, 2025

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Supporting Sources (49)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
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Putting the P in Ptilotus: a phosphorus-accumulating herb native to Australia - PMC

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(PDF) Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Nutrient Cycling in Australian Savannas on JSTOR - DOI

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Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 17, 2025

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Eyre and Yorke Mallee | One Earth, accessed July 13, 2025
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Fire and Its Interactions With Other Drivers Shape a Distinctive, Semi-Arid 'Mallee' Ecosystem - Frontiers, accessed July 8, 2025
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Fire and Its Interactions With Other Drivers Shape a Distinctive, Semi-Arid 'Mallee' Ecosystem - Frontiers

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Food safety and standard of Australian Native plants - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
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Food safety and standard of Australian Native plants - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025

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How to convert cmol/kg to mg/kg? - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025

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I*. Overview of a 40-year study of the effects of land clearing in the brigalow bioregion of Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 13, 2025

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Land systems, soils and vegetation of the southern Goldfields and Great Western Woodlands of Western Australia - Volume 1 - DBCA Library, accessed July 13, 2025
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Land systems, soils and vegetation of the southern Goldfields and Great Western Woodlands of Western Australia - Volume 1 - DBCA Library, accessed July 13, 2025

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Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - BioOne Complete, accessed July 10, 2025
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Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - BioOne Complete

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Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,
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Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 11, 2025,
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Potassium Control of Plant Functions: Ecological and Agricultural Implications - MDPI

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Potassium: A Vital Regulator of Plant Responses and Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses - MDPI, accessed July 13, 2025
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Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support Government

UPTAKE OF ARSENIC BY NATIVE PLANTS GROWING ON GOLD TAILINGS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIAN RANGELANDS1

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Soil Fertility Trends. An Analysis of Soil Data from the Murray Mallee ..., accessed July 13, 2025
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Soil K rundown in the Western grains region – where, why and what does it mean for crop yields? - GRDC, accessed July 13, 2025
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Subsoil testing required to detect the rundown of soil potassium to deficient levels for wheat production on loam-textured soils - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
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Subsoil testing required to detect the rundown of soil potassium to deficient levels for wheat production on loam-textured soils - ResearchGate

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Preview of The Brigalow Catchment Study: V. Clearing and burning brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) in Queensland, Australia, temporarily increases surface soil fertility prior to nutrient decline under cropping or grazing
The Brigalow Catchment Study: V. Clearing and burning brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) in Queensland, Australia, temporarily increases surface soil fertility prior to nutrient decline under cropping or grazing
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The Brigalow Catchment Study: V. Clearing and burning brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) in Queensland, Australia, temporarily increases surface soil fertility prior to nutrient decline under cropping or grazing

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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
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Water Balance and Soil Fertility Characteristics of Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) Lands Before and After Forest Clearing - UKnowledge, accessed July 13, 2025

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Minimum limits for pastures and moderate-textured soils.