Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSW-AGR-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

4 dS/m

Thresholds: Lower: 0.15, Upper: 4

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MinimumOnly

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

Severe Degradation Threshold > 4.0 All soil types Classified as saline soil. Significant yield loss in most crops, loss of sensitive biodiversity, and potential for irreversible soil structural damage (sodicity).

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as ECe (saturated paste extract)

Benchmark Definition:

An ECe of 4.0 dS/m is the widely accepted scientific classification for a saline soil, indicating severe degradation with significant yield losses and potential irreversible soil structural damage.

Justification:

An ECe of 4.0 dS/m is the widely accepted scientific classification for a saline soil, indicating severe degradation with significant yield losses and potential irreversible soil structural damage.

Sources (1)

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

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

NCC: Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source

Soil Health Assessment - Natural Resources Conservation Service - USDA, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Health Assessment - Natural Resources Conservation Service - USDA

View Source

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

View Source

Preview of Which material can be used to reduce electrical conductivity of soil? And what are the disadvantages when electrical conductivity of soil increases ? | ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025,

Which material can be used to reduce electrical conductivity of soil? And what are the disadvantages when electrical conductivity of soil increases ? | ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

UNDERSTANDING YOUR STEP BY STEP Cath Botta - Goulburn ...

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

Crossing this threshold indicates a dysfunctional ecosystem with impaired soil water and nutrient regulation. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:14 UTC: UpperThreshold → 4 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Moving the threshold to UpperThreshold correctly represents the upper degradation limit as per the Notes. This will auto-correct the form from MinimumOnly to MaximumOnly, resolving the contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:14 UTC: LowerThreshold 4 → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: The threshold of 4.0 dS/m is an upper degradation limit, so LowerThreshold should be cleared to allow moving the value to UpperThreshold.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:14 UTC: LowerThreshold 4 → 0.15 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Swapping threshold values to correct form assignments. The Notes for ID=1466 indicate an upper degradation ceiling at 4.0 dS/m, so this value belongs to the MaximumOnly form. Setting LowerThreshold to 0.15 here aligns with the lower degradation floor described in ID=1463's Notes.)

Related Benchmarks

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