Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-ASC-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A lower critical threshold is likely in the range of 2.0% to 2.5% SOC (0-10cm). Levels consistently below this probably indicate significantly compromised soil health and ecological function in these environments.

Metric Definition:

Minimum Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration in the 0-10 cm soil depth layer below which ecological function is significantly compromised in Australian Alpine and Subalpine grazing systems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical minimum Soil Organic Carbon concentration in the top 0-10 cm soil layer below which soil health and ecological function are impaired in Australian alpine and subalpine grazing systems.

Justification:

Based on general pasture guidelines and international alpine studies indicating degradation below this level.

Sources (3)

Preview of Grazing disturbance significantly decreased soil organic carbon contents of alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau

Grazing disturbance significantly decreased soil organic carbon contents of alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau Journal

Grazing disturbance significantly decreased soil organic carbon contents of alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau - Frontiers

Preview of Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed on June 7, 2025, Journal

www.utas.edu.au, accessed May 11, 2025

Preview of What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025, Government

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed July 18, 2025

Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) A scoping review on the impact of rotational grazing in beef cattle systems on greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, plant diversity, and plant productivity parameters - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026,

(PDF) A scoping review on the impact of rotational grazing in beef cattle systems on greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, plant diversity, and plant productivity parameters - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) A scoping review on the impact of rotational grazing in beef cattle systems on greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, plant diversity, and plant productivity parameters - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of (PDF) Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With ...

(PDF) Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With ...

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With Particular Reference to Australian Conditions - ResearchGate

Preview of Approaching carbon neutral on a sheep and agroforestry farm | On ...

Approaching carbon neutral on a sheep and agroforestry farm | On ...

Contextual Support Government

Approaching carbon neutral on a sheep and agroforestry farm | On ...

Preview of Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Matter and Carbon Sequestration

Preview of Best Management Practice for Grazing. NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Best Management Practice for Grazing. NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Direct Evidence Journal

Estimates of late Holocene soil production and erosion in the Snowy Mountains, Australia - University of Wollongong Research Online, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of Best Management Practices - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 7, 2026,

Best Management Practices - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 7, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

STATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS - DCCEEW, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of Climate Change Impact, Adaptation, and Mitigation in Temperate Grazing Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Climate Change Impact, Adaptation, and Mitigation in Temperate Grazing Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

Climate Change Impact, Adaptation, and Mitigation in Temperate Grazing Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review

Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review

Contextual Support Journal

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FUTURE OF CATTLE GRAZING IN THE ALPINE NATIONAL PARK

Preview of Drivers of Input and Stabilisation Control Subsoil Organic Carbon Content in Perennial Pasture Grazing Systems - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Drivers of Input and Stabilisation Control Subsoil Organic Carbon Content in Perennial Pasture Grazing Systems - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

Drivers of Input and Stabilisation Control Subsoil Organic Carbon Content in Perennial Pasture Grazing Systems - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in Temperate Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands in SE Australia: A Literature Review - ACT Government, accessed May 7, 2026,

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in Temperate Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands in SE Australia: A Literature Review - ACT Government, accessed May 7, 2026,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in Temperate Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands in SE Australia: A Literature Review - ACT Government, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of final report - MLA, accessed May 7, 2026,

final report - MLA, accessed May 7, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

INQUIRY INTO MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LAND IN NEW SOUTH WALES - NSW Parliament

Preview of Grazing disturbance significantly decreased soil organic carbon contents of alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau - Frontiers

Grazing disturbance significantly decreased soil organic carbon contents of alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau - Frontiers

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing Intensity Accelerates Surface Soil C and N Cycling in Alpine Pastures as Revealed by Soil Genes and δ 15 N Ratio - MDPI

Preview of Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026

Preview of Grazing on Public Lands in the Southwest United States - ArcGIS StoryMaps, accessed May 7, 2026,

Grazing on Public Lands in the Southwest United States - ArcGIS StoryMaps, accessed May 7, 2026,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing on Public Lands in the Southwest United States - ArcGIS StoryMaps, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia

Preview of Increasing soil organic carbon of agricultural land - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 7, 2026,

Increasing soil organic carbon of agricultural land - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 7, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

vegetation | Australian Alps National Parks, accessed May 11, 2026,

Preview of Insights for NSW forest outcomes and management - Natural Resources Commission, accessed May 7, 2026,

Insights for NSW forest outcomes and management - Natural Resources Commission, accessed May 7, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Insights for NSW forest outcomes and management - Natural Resources Commission, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management

Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management

Contextual Support Journal

Development of a new piosphere in arid chenopod shrubland grazed by sheep. I. Changes to the soil surface. - ResearchGate

Preview of Modelling Soil Carbon Content in South Patagonia and Evaluating Changes According to Climate, Vegetation, Desertification and Grazing - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Modelling Soil Carbon Content in South Patagonia and Evaluating Changes According to Climate, Vegetation, Desertification and Grazing - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

Modelling Soil Carbon Content in South Patagonia and Evaluating Changes According to Climate, Vegetation, Desertification and Grazing - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of National Inventory Report 2014 (revised) Volume 2 - DCCEEW, accessed May 7, 2026,

National Inventory Report 2014 (revised) Volume 2 - DCCEEW, accessed May 7, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

National Inventory Report 2014 (revised) Volume 2 - DCCEEW, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of PROTECTING THE OVERLOOKED CARBON SINK - Panda.org, accessed May 7, 2026,

PROTECTING THE OVERLOOKED CARBON SINK - Panda.org, accessed May 7, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

PROTECTING THE OVERLOOKED CARBON SINK - Panda.org, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of Small-scale agricultural grassland management can affect soil fungal community structure as much as continental scale geographic patterns - PMC, accessed May 7, 2026,

Small-scale agricultural grassland management can affect soil fungal community structure as much as continental scale geographic patterns - PMC, accessed May 7, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Grazing on Soil Organic Carbon in the Rhizosphere of Stipa Grandis in a Typical Steppe of Inner Mongolia, China - MDPI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of Snowy Strategic Activation Precinct - NSW Planning Portal

Snowy Strategic Activation Precinct - NSW Planning Portal

Direct Evidence Journal

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2006). Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania Listing Advice.

Preview of Soil Carbon in South Australia: Volume 4 - Benchmarks and Data analysis for the Agricultural Zone 1990-2007

Soil Carbon in South Australia: Volume 4 - Benchmarks and Data analysis for the Agricultural Zone 1990-2007

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Carbon in South Australia: Volume 4 - Benchmarks and Data analysis for the Agricultural Zone 1990-2007

Preview of Soil carbon stocks and land use change: A meta analysis | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026,

Soil carbon stocks and land use change: A meta analysis | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil carbon stocks and land use change: A meta analysis | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of The Deep Soil Organic Carbon Response to Global Change - OSTI, accessed May 7, 2026,

The Deep Soil Organic Carbon Response to Global Change - OSTI, accessed May 7, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Understanding the relationship between livestock grazing and wetland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, accessed May 7, 2026,

Preview of University of Tasmania Open Access Repository Cover sheet, accessed May 7, 2026,

University of Tasmania Open Access Repository Cover sheet, accessed May 7, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FUTURE OF CATTLE GRAZING IN THE ALPINE NATIONAL PARK - DCCEEW, accessed May 7, 2026

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

SOC levels below 2.0-2.5% (0-10cm) likely indicate significantly compromised ecological function and soil health. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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