Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AIF-CON-SEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0 to 4 dS/m

Optimal Range: 0 to 4

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. The scoring engine uses 10 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 9 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The reference value represents the median estimated topsoil (0-10 cm) saturated paste electrical conductivity (ECe) from high-integrity conservation sites within Australia's Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as saturated paste extract electrical conductivity (ECe) in topsoil (0-10 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

Median estimated saturated paste electrical conductivity (ECe) in topsoil (0-10 cm) from high-integrity conservation sites in Australia's Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems.

Justification:

Derived from TERN AusPlots national surveillance dataset filtered for protected areas with healthy native vegetation, using a systematic, national-scale, field-verified dataset and transparent analytical methodology.

Sources (1)

TERN Surveillance monitoring program: Soil vis-NIR spectral library with accompanying soil measurement data for 367 specimens Government

TERN Surveillance monitoring program: Soil vis-NIR spectral library with accompanying soil measurement data for 367 specimens

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Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Table 2: Indicative Salinity Tolerance Thresholds (ECe�) for Key Native Indicator Species of Arid Floodplain Ecosystems

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Table 2: Indicative Salinity Tolerance Thresholds (ECe�) for Key Native Indicator Species of Arid Floodplain Ecosystems

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026
Effective To 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: Not applicable in this naturally saline biome. Optimal Range: < 2.0 - 4.0 dS/m supports resilient floodplain woodlands and diverse native understorey. Upper Detrimental Threshold: Ecological tipping point at 8 - 16 dS/m where ecosystem shifts to degraded halophytic shrubland.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AIF-CON-SEC family.