Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TMS-FOR-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

800 kPa

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

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 MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

The derived "best-on-offer" benchmark for Soil Structure and Compaction in this context is 800 kPa.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance as a measure of soil compaction and structure.

Benchmark Definition:

Penetrometer resistance (PR) is used as the indicator of soil compaction and structure in Australian tropical monsoonal savanna production forestry. This benchmark represents an aspirational target derived from minimally disturbed mature forest ecosystems, indicating a state of high ecological health.

Justification:

It is derived from the physical state of a minimally disturbed, mature reference forest ecosystem on comparable soils, representing an aspirational target for sustainable forestry. It sits within the optimal range of <1000 kPa and provides a safe margin from critical thresholds (>2000 kPa) where significant ecological harm begins.

Sources (2)

Preview of (PDF) Soil Compaction and Root Growth: A Review - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

(PDF) Soil Compaction and Root Growth: A Review - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

(PDF) Soil Compaction and Root Growth: A Review - ResearchGate

Preview of SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN DIFFERENT STAND ...

SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN DIFFERENT STAND ... Journal

SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN DIFFERENT STAND ...

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil compaction and eucalyptus growth in response to forwarder traffic intensity and load - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

(PDF) Soil compaction and eucalyptus growth in response to forwarder traffic intensity and load - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

(PDF) Soil compaction and eucalyptus growth in response to forwarder traffic intensity and load - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of Assessment of Code of Practice for Plantation Forestry: Northern Territory - DAFF, accessed May 16, 2025,

Assessment of Code of Practice for Plantation Forestry: Northern Territory - DAFF, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support

Assessment of Code of Practice for Plantation Forestry: Northern Territory - DAFF, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of bg.copernicus.org, accessed May 16, 2025,

bg.copernicus.org, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

bg.copernicus.org, accessed May 16, 2025,

Changes in cone penetrometer resistance (KPa) through the profile in... - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Changes in cone penetrometer resistance (KPa) through the profile in... - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of Effects of Recreational Camping on the Environmental Values of National Parks in Sri Lanka, accessed May 16, 2025,

Effects of Recreational Camping on the Environmental Values of National Parks in Sri Lanka, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Recreational Camping on the Environmental Values of National Parks in Sri Lanka, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of Effects of soil compaction on the growth and mortality of planted dipterocarp seedlings in a logged-over tropical rainforest in Sarawak, Malaysia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Effects of soil compaction on the growth and mortality of planted dipterocarp seedlings in a logged-over tropical rainforest in Sarawak, Malaysia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Effects of soil compaction on the growth and mortality of planted dipterocarp seedlings in a logged-over tropical rainforest in Sarawak, Malaysia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of Estimation of the impact of precrops and climate variability on soil depth- differentiated spring wheat growth and water, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Estimation of the impact of precrops and climate variability on soil depth- differentiated spring wheat growth and water, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Estimation of the impact of precrops and climate variability on soil depth- differentiated spring wheat growth and water, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of fwpa.com.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

fwpa.com.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

fwpa.com.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of Grazing management systems and their effects on savanna ecosystem dynamics - CiteSeerX, accessed May 16, 2025,

Grazing management systems and their effects on savanna ecosystem dynamics - CiteSeerX, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support

Grazing management systems and their effects on savanna ecosystem dynamics - CiteSeerX, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis

Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis

Preview of International Workshop on Soils - This document is discoverable and free to researchers across the globe due to the work of AgEcon Search. Help ensure our sustain, accessed May 16, 2025,

International Workshop on Soils - This document is discoverable and free to researchers across the globe due to the work of AgEcon Search. Help ensure our sustain, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

International Workshop on Soils - This document is discoverable and free to researchers across the globe due to the work of AgEcon Search. Help ensure our sustain, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of Management impacts on health of soils supporting Australian grain ..., accessed July 28, 2025

Management impacts on health of soils supporting Australian grain ..., accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Management impacts on health of soils supporting Australian grain and sugarcane industries | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,

National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO

Preview of Pinelands: Impacts of Different Long-Term Land Uses on Soil Physical Properties in Red Ferrosols - MDPI, accessed July 19, 2025

Pinelands: Impacts of Different Long-Term Land Uses on Soil Physical Properties in Red Ferrosols - MDPI, accessed July 19, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Land management technical notes and fact sheets

Preview of Sitemap - Forest & Wood Products Australia, accessed May 16, 2025,

Sitemap - Forest & Wood Products Australia, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sitemap - Forest & Wood Products Australia, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Soil penetration resistance and tree root development | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Soil penetration resistance and tree root development | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Soil penetration resistance and tree root development | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices, accessed August 5, 2025

The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Protecting farm waterways | Dairy News Australia

Preview of www.forestworks.com.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

www.forestworks.com.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.forestworks.com.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of www.frontiersin.org, accessed May 16, 2025,

www.frontiersin.org, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.frontiersin.org

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

No direct field measurements for penetrometer resistance in Australian tropical savanna production forestry were found. This benchmark is synthesized from proxy data representing a high ecological health state. There is no evidence of an upper detrimental threshold; lower compaction is consistently better for forest soil health.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-FOR-SSC family.