Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMI-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2 dS/m

Thresholds: Lower: 0.5, Upper: 2

Direction: Lower 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. The scoring engine uses 16 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 15 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Proposed Threshold: An upper detrimental threshold of ECe>2.0 dS/m is proposed.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as Saturation Extract EC (ECe) in dS/m

Benchmark Definition:

This threshold indicates a degraded soil state where nutrient overload poses ecological risks, signaling failure in sustainable grazing system functions in tropical maritime island pastures.

Justification:

Exceeding this value indicates that the grazing system is failing in one of its primary ecological functions: the effective containment and cycling of nutrients. It represents a transition from a state of sustainable fertility to a state of nutrient overload, where the pasture has become a potential source of pollution rather than a healthy, self-regulating ecosystem. This threshold defines a degraded state from an ecosystem-wide perspective, prioritizing the health of connected aquatic and marine environments over the maximum agronomic tolerance of the hardiest pasture grasses.

Sources (2)

Managing cattle grazing on Norfolk Island tos enhance water quality - Agronomist visit Government

Managing cattle grazing on Norfolk Island tos enhance water quality - Agronomist visit

View Source

Preview of Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA

Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA Journal

Soil Electrical Conductivity - Guides for Educators

View Source

Supporting Sources (38)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010 - Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed July 28, 2025, )
Salinity - The University of Western Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010 - Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed July 28, 2025, ) Salinity - The University of Western Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Government

1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010 - Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed July 28, 2025, ) Salinity - The University of Western Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Preview of 229-2025: Consultation on potential measures for bringing or importing live animals and animal products into Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025

229-2025: Consultation on potential measures for bringing or importing live animals and animal products into Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Government

229-2025: Consultation on potential measures for bringing or importing live animals and animal products into Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

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

Animal Management | Torres Strait Island Regional Council, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support

Animal Management | Torres Strait Island Regional Council, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Beef cattle return to Lord Howe Island - The Farmer Magazine, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source

Categories - Land use and environmental planning - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Soil nutrient critical limits | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Ecological Regions Of Australia - WorldAtlas, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ecological Regions Of Australia - WorldAtlas, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

final report - FutureBeef, accessed July 28, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

final report - FutureBeef, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Graziers contribute to preserving the Great Barrier Reef

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source

How do we drive a renaissance for national island conservation in Australia?, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

How do we drive a renaissance for national island conservation in Australia?, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Preview of How regenerative farming practices are revolutionising biodiversity in agriculture - Institute of Sustainability Studies, accessed July 25, 2025,

How regenerative farming practices are revolutionising biodiversity in agriculture - Institute of Sustainability Studies, accessed July 25, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source

How regenerative farming practices are revolutionising biodiversity in agriculture - Institute of Sustainability Studies, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture - EARTHDAY.ORG, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Impacts of salinity | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed May 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

What can electrical conductivity tell us about our soil? - Trace and Save, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025,

View Source

Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Lord Howe Island biodiversity management plan - DCCEEW, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Lord Howe Island Education Kit, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Reassembling island ecosystems: The case of Lord Howe Island - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island to Enhance Water Quality, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island to Enhance Water Quality, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Managing cattle grazing on Norfolk Island tos enhance water quality - Agronomist visit, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island to Enhance Water Quality, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 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 July 10, 2025,

View Source

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source

Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Norfolk Island Water Assessment publications and datasets - CSIRO, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment project | Department of ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment project | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 30, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Cattle : Norfolk Blue | RARE BREEDS TRUST OF AUSTRALIA | TidyHQ, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source

Preview of PFAS Ongoing Monitoring Plan - Year 2 Monitoring Report - Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, accessed July 28, 2025

PFAS Ongoing Monitoring Plan - Year 2 Monitoring Report - Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, accessed July 28, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

PFAS Ongoing Monitoring Plan - Year 2 Monitoring Report - Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Rapid internal drainage rates in Ferrosols | Request PDF, accessed July 28, 2025

Irrelevant Government

Regenerative Agriculture - Norfolk FWAG, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Longest Paddock: Cattle on Norfolk Island, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review

View Source

Soil Analysis Results for Pastures - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Integration of Soil Electrical Conductivity and Indices Obtained through Satellite Imagery for Differential Management of Pasture Fertilization - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

USDA 12

View Source

Soil Electrical Conductivity | South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How salinity is measured - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source

Soil Salinity in Australia (2001) - CSIROpedia, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Soil Salinity Explained, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

The farmers of Lord Howe Island - The Farmer Magazine

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

EN29 Lord Howe Island - Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source

Preview of The Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan: An integrated approach to recovery planning - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,

The Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan: An integrated approach to recovery planning - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Plants & Animals | Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source

Preview of The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication: Social and Technical Lessons for Inhabited Islands - DigitalCommons@USU, accessed August 3, 2025,

The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication: Social and Technical Lessons for Inhabited Islands - DigitalCommons@USU, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Torres Strait Island Biosecurity Action Plans, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source

The Soil Health Principles of Regenerative Agriculture - Frantoio Grove, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

The Soil Health Principles of Regenerative Agriculture - Frantoio Grove, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Regenerative Agriculture at Rocking Chair Farm - DCCEEW, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

The upper detrimental threshold is the Soil EC level above which the concentration of soluble salts (primarily nutrients) in the soil is high enough to constitute a significant and unacceptable risk of nutrient and sediment runoff into waterways and the marine environment. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: LowerThreshold 2 → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Clearing LowerThreshold after moving the threshold value to UpperThreshold to avoid duplication and reflect the correct threshold direction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: UpperThreshold → 2 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: The Notes state 'above 2.0 dS/m is detrimental', indicating this is an upper threshold. Moving the value from LowerThreshold to UpperThreshold will correct the form from MinimumOnly to MaximumOnly, resolving the contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: LowerThreshold 2 → 0.5 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: The Notes indicate this threshold is an upper limit ('above 2.0 dS/m is detrimental'), so the value 2.0 should be swapped with the MaximumOnly threshold. Setting LowerThreshold to 0.5 aligns with the swapped value and allows the system to auto-correct the form.)

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-LVG-SEC family.