Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-AGR-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Direction: Higher 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 24 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 23 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Therefore, the proposed reference value for high environmental health is < 0.20 dS/m (measured as EC₁:₅).

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as EC₁:₅ in soil-to-water suspension.

Benchmark Definition:

The benchmark represents a non-saline state characteristic of high ecological function in sustainably managed cropping systems.

Justification:

This value is derived from state government guidelines (e.g., Agriculture Victoria, NSW DPI) and aligns with evidence that healthy remnant native woodlands in the biome exhibit low EC.

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

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures?

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA

Direct Evidence Journal

Effect of Soil Water on Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity and Texture Relationships in a Dryland Field - USDA ARS, accessed July 30, 2025

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Confidence is moderate as the value is a synthesis of general guidelines rather than direct measurement from a multi-site study of best-practice regenerative farms. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: BenchmarkValue 0.2 → 2 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Swapping values to correct form assignments: 2.0 is the upper detrimental threshold (MaximumOnly), so BenchmarkValue on ID=1460 is updated to 2.0.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:54 UTC: BenchmarkValue 2 → (check: MinEqualsMax, rationale: Clearing BenchmarkValue as the threshold is now in UpperThreshold; this avoids duplication and allows form auto-correction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:54 UTC: UpperThreshold → 0.2 (check: MinEqualsMax, rationale: The Notes indicate 0.2 dS/m is the upper detrimental threshold (ceiling) for EC, so setting UpperThreshold=0.2 on the MaximumOnly benchmark aligns with ecological meaning and resolves the zero-width range. BenchmarkValue will be cleared by the system.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: UpperThreshold 0.2 → (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: The Notes state 'No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation,' so the UpperThreshold of 0.2 dS/m on the MaximumOnly benchmark is inappropriate and should be cleared to resolve the contradiction.)

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-AGR-SEC family.