Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1.8 dS/m
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

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 3 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The potential upper detrimental threshold is defined as commencing at ECe >1.8 dS/m, with increasing severity of negative impacts on sensitive alpine flora and ecosystem processes as ECe values rise further.

Metric Definition:

Electrical Conductivity of the saturated paste extract (ECe)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the maximum soil electrical conductivity threshold above which salinity stress begins to negatively impact alpine and subalpine grasslands under conservation grazing.

Justification:

Values above 1.8 dS/m mark the transition to 'Low' salinity, causing stress to sensitive alpine species.

Sources (1)

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 Government

Agriculture Victoria. (2025). Understanding soil tests for pastures. Farm Management.

View Source

Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,
Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io

View Source
Preview of Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed on June 5, 2025
Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Grazing Management and Soil Health - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 19, 2025,
Grazing Management and Soil Health - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 19, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Correlates of grass-species composition in a savanna woodland in ..., accessed July 23, 2025,

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
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Grassland
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Onset of potential stress; departure from best available condition.

Related Benchmarks

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

1 dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference · Grassland
MaximumOnly Active v1
— dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Grassland
OptimalRange Active v1
0.2 dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Grassland
MinimumOnly Active v1