Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSR-LVG-SEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0.07 to 0.24 dS/m

Optimal Range: 0.07 to 0.24

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 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

The benchmark for high ecological health is therefore defined by the EC range corresponding to the "Low" salinity rating.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) is a measure of the ability of a soil solution to conduct an electrical current.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the range of soil electrical conductivity values indicating high ecological health in grazing pastures within Australian tropical and subtropical rainforests, reflecting low salinity and functional hydrological conditions.

Justification:

The benchmark represents the "Low" salinity rating for grazing lands, which is the "best available condition" in this high-rainfall, leached biome. The specific range depends on soil texture.

Sources (2)

Preview of Pasture species selection for revegetation of open-cut coal mine areas in central Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate

Pasture species selection for revegetation of open-cut coal mine areas in central Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate Journal

Pasture species selection for revegetation of open-cut coal mine areas in central Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Preview of Productive soils in the grazing enterprise - FutureBeef

Productive soils in the grazing enterprise - FutureBeef Journal

Productive soils in the grazing enterprise - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (9)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Comparison of Soil EC Values from Methods Based on 1:1 and 1:5 Soil to Water Ratios and ECe from Saturated Paste Extract Based Method - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

(PDF) Comparison of Soil EC Values from Methods Based on 1:1 and 1:5 Soil to Water Ratios and ECe from Saturated Paste Extract Based Method - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

Methodology Source Journal

(PDF) Comparison of Soil EC Values from Methods Based on 1:1 and 1:5 Soil to Water Ratios and ECe from Saturated Paste Extract Based Method - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Cation exchange capacity - CBX Products, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Cation exchange capacity - CBX Products, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Preview of Evaluation of Soil Chemical Properties under Paddy Production System in Central Kenya: Soil Exchangeable Cations - Semantic Scholar, accessed July 18, 2025

Evaluation of Soil Chemical Properties under Paddy Production System in Central Kenya: Soil Exchangeable Cations - Semantic Scholar, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Evaluation of Soil Chemical Properties under Paddy Production System in Central Kenya: Soil Exchangeable Cations - Semantic Scholar, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Experimental observation of signature changes in bulk soil electrical, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Experimental observation of signature changes in bulk soil electrical, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source

RESEARCH ARTICLE, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ..., accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Salinity: Electrical Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids - USDA ARS, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, BASIC CATIONS AND ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT OF SOILS UNDER DIFFERENT LAND USE PRACTICES IN AKWA IBOM STATE - African - British Journals, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Soil Health Card - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Health Card - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Soil Health Card Grazing draft5-2-09, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Health Card Grazing draft5-2-09, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Boundary: Not applicable; the lowest naturally occurring levels are considered optimal. Upper Boundary: Detrimental effects on the pasture ecosystem begin when ECe exceeds 2.0 dS/m, corresponding to initial yield decline in sensitive pasture species. A persistent field-measured EC (1:5) >0.3 dS/m is a strong indicator of system dysfunction (e.g., poor drainage). Optimal Range: The optimal range is the reference value itself; the goal is to maintain EC at or below this low benchmark.