Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-CON-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.04 to 0.08 dS/m
Optimal Range: 0.04 to 0.08
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 health of a Temperate Grassy Woodland is best described by a characteristic range of EC values that reflects the ecosystem's natural mosaic structure, bounded by approximately 0.04 dS/m in open grassy areas to 0.08 dS/m under tree canopies.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as EC of a 1:5 soil:water extract in the topsoil (0-10 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

Characteristic range of soil EC values reflecting natural heterogeneity in high-quality temperate grassy woodlands.

Justification:

This range reflects the natural mosaic structure and functional heterogeneity of the ecosystem.

Sources (1)

Preview of (PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) Impacts of tree invasion on floristic composition of subtropical grasslands on the Bunya Mountains, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (8)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025
All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support

Impacts of salinity | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Root Structure and Functioning for Efficient Acquisition of Phosphorus: Matching Morphological and Physiological Traits

View Source
Preview of Graham, R. C., & Wilson, B. R. (2007). The influence of scattered trees on soil properties in temperate pastures. Soil Research, 45(2), 121-131.
Graham, R. C., & Wilson, B. R. (2007). The influence of scattered trees on soil properties in temperate pastures. Soil Research, 45(2), 121-131.
Contextual Support Journal

Towards restoration of grassy White and Yellow Box woodlands ..., accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland of the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

The Impact of Tree Species on Microbial Community Structure and Soil Function on Forest Plantations in the Central Hardwoods Reg, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Relating apparent electrical conductivity to soil properties across the north-central USA - USDA ARS, accessed August 11, 2025
Relating apparent electrical conductivity to soil properties across the north-central USA - USDA ARS, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Quality Indicators - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Relating apparent electrical conductivity to soil properties across the north-central USA - USDA ARS, accessed August 9, 2025
Relating apparent electrical conductivity to soil properties across the north-central USA - USDA ARS, accessed August 9, 2025
Degradation Threshold Journal

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Salinity | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025
Salinity | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed July 28, 2025

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

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Values falling significantly outside this range suggest a departure from the reference condition, either through degradation (if too high) or a lack of functional complexity.

Related Benchmarks

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

0.082 dS/m High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Woodland
Point Active v1
0.25 dS/m High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Woodland
MaximumOnly Active v1