Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AMR-CON-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.05 to 0.2 dS/m
Optimal Range: 0.05 to 0.2
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 MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The optimal range is proposed as 0.05 - 0.20 dS/m (ECe).

Metric Definition:

Optimal functional range for soil electrical conductivity (EC) representing natural background ionic concentration of healthy soils.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal functional range of soil electrical conductivity that supports healthy soil nutrient availability without causing osmotic stress in conservation areas of the Australian Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands.

Justification:

This range provides sufficient baseline nutrients without causing osmotic stress and reflects the natural background ionic concentration of healthy, stable soils in this biome.

Sources (2)

Preview of Alice Mulga SuperSite | Soil & Vegetation Monitoring - TERN Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,
Alice Mulga SuperSite | Soil & Vegetation Monitoring - TERN Australia, accessed July 22, 2025, Government

Great Western Woodlands, Ground Water Data, 2014 - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025 Government

Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Represents the ideal state for conservation management.

Related Benchmarks

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

0.2 dS/m High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Active v1
0.05 dS/m Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
LowerThreshold Active v1
2 dS/m Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
UpperThreshold Active v1