Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSW-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 2

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: UpperThreshold

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

An ECe exceeding 2.0 dS/m marks the transition to a degraded state.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold of Soil Electrical Conductivity (ECe) above which ecological degradation occurs.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the upper soil electrical conductivity threshold beyond which negative effects on salt-sensitive species and ecosystem function occur.

Justification:

This threshold is based on authoritative government guidelines and scientific literature classifying soil salinity impacts.

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

Understanding soil tests for pastures

Supporting Sources (27)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Introduction, Dryland Salinity: A Key Environmental Issue in Southern Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

(PDF) Introduction, Dryland Salinity: A Key Environmental Issue in Southern Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Introduction, Dryland Salinity: A Key Environmental Issue in Southern Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of A Guide To Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC): Description, Importance & Soil EC Maps, accessed May 16, 2025,

A Guide To Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC): Description, Importance & Soil EC Maps, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Impacts of salinity | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government

Preview of Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF, accessed August 6, 2025,

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF, accessed August 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil nitrogen dynamics in natural forest ecosystem: a review - Frontiers, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed July 10, 2025,

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

The effect of climate change on pastoralism in the Australian arid and semi-arid rangelands - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 29, 2025,

Preview of Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on vegetation dynamics of a degraded native grassland in semi-arid south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 13, 2025,

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on vegetation dynamics of a degraded native grassland in semi-arid south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Grassland soil carbon and nitrogen stocks under temperate ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Electrical Conductivity (ECe) - 0 - 10 cm | Victoria | Examine | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 10, 2025,

Electrical Conductivity (ECe) - 0 - 10 cm | Victoria | Examine | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

An alternative method to measure electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in salt-affected soil extracts - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Grazing effects on plant cover, soil and microclimate in fragmented woodlands in south-western Australia: Implications for restoration | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Grazing effects on plant cover, soil and microclimate in fragmented woodlands in south-western Australia: Implications for restoration | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing effects on plant cover, soil and microclimate in fragmented woodlands in south-western Australia: Implications for restoration | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of How To Feed Your Native Plants, accessed July 10, 2025,

How To Feed Your Native Plants, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

How To Feed Your Native Plants, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Modeling the electrical conductivity relationship between saturated paste extract and 1:2.5 dilution in different soil textural classes - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,

Modeling the electrical conductivity relationship between saturated paste extract and 1:2.5 dilution in different soil textural classes - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Modeling the electrical conductivity relationship between saturated paste extract and 1:2.5 dilution in different soil textural classes - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,

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

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

Preview of Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed July 10, 2025,

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impact of grazing on chemical, physical and biological properties of soils in the mountain rangelands of Sahand, Iran - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Salinity - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 10, 2025,

Salinity - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Salinity - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Salinity in Western Australia : a situation statement - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 10, 2025,

Salinity in Western Australia : a situation statement - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed July 13, 2025

Preview of Salinity tolerance in irrigated crops - NSW Department of Primary ..., accessed July 17, 2025,

Salinity tolerance in irrigated crops - NSW Department of Primary ..., accessed July 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Fertilising Australian Native Plants: Tips for a Healthy Garden, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Salinity tolerance in irrigated crops - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 10, 2025,

Salinity tolerance in irrigated crops - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Search publications | Research and publications | Environment and ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

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

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

Direct Evidence Journal

USDA 12

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

Soil Electrical Conductivity - Guides for Educators

Preview of Soil Salinity - Land degradation in Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Soil Salinity - Land degradation in Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Salinity - Land degradation in Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Stream-salinity-status-and-trends-in-south-west-WA.pdf - Government of Western Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Stream-salinity-status-and-trends-in-south-west-WA.pdf - Government of Western Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Salinity in Australia - Wikipedia

Preview of The Effect of Soil Texture on the Conversion Factor of 1:5 Soil/Water ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

The Effect of Soil Texture on the Conversion Factor of 1:5 Soil/Water ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

Methodology Source

Full article: Estimating the electrical conductivity of a saturated soil paste extract (ECe) from 1:1(EC1:1), 1:2(EC1:2) and 1:5(EC1:5) soil:water suspension ratios, in calcareous soils from the Mediterranean Islands of Malta - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of What can electrical conductivity tell us about our soil? - Trace and Save, accessed July 10, 2025,

What can electrical conductivity tell us about our soil? - Trace and Save, accessed July 10, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

What can electrical conductivity tell us about our soil? - Trace and Save, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Why measure Electrical Conductivity (EC) in soil? - SoilSense, accessed July 9, 2025,

Why measure Electrical Conductivity (EC) in soil? - SoilSense, accessed July 9, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Why measure Electrical Conductivity (EC) in soil? - SoilSense, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Woodland Remnants and Dryland Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 9, 2025

Woodland Remnants and Dryland Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 9, 2025

Contextual Support

(PDF) Effects of salinisation on riparian plant communities in ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of World salinization with emphasis on Australia | Journal of Experimental Botany, accessed July 10, 2025,

World salinization with emphasis on Australia | Journal of Experimental Botany, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

World salinization with emphasis on Australia | Journal of Experimental Botany, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Potassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 28, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

At this level, negative osmotic and toxic effects on salt-sensitive pasture species and native vegetation begin to occur, compromising biodiversity and ecosystem function.

Related Benchmarks

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